“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11 (KJV)
Day 10: Make Room for Gratitude
Did you know that finding time to be grateful for all the blessings in your life can actually help you have a brighter perspective and attitude? I imagine you do know that, but we often need a reminder to work on being thankful for the little things as well as the bigger things in life.
Have you ever been in a group where someone was griping and complaining about everything? A complaining spirit can quickly grow like a bad virus.
On the opposite side of the coin, a positive outlook creates happy feelings which are then shared with others to spread the positive feelings all around.
There is, in fact, a science behind the benefit of gratitude. Positive psychology studies have been conducted which show that people who take part in a daily gratitude practice manage to reduce their stress levels and increase feelings of happiness and well-being. (Not surprising, right?!)
Not only does gratitude brighten our outlook, but beneficial brain chemicals, such as oxytocin, are also released as a result of the positive change in thinking. These feel-good chemicals work to calm our nervous system and take us out of fight or flight mode.
Not being perpetually stressed allows us to slow down and live our lives in a mindful, rather than reactive, mode.
When we take the time needed to plan, strategize and think through our problems, we tend to bring about increasingly useful results that have far-reaching effects on those with whom we deal.
Journaling Exercise: Take Time to Be Grateful
For today's journaling exercise, we'll get into a gratitude frame of mind.
Practicing gratitude starts out with purposeful intent. In the same way that hanging around negative, sarcastic people can change your thoughts to become negative and sarcastic, having a positive outlook is something that can be taught to our brains through repetition.
So, for today's journal, grab your writing tool and trusty notebook or journal.
Jot down five things to be grateful for today. Even if today was a bad day, and lots of things happened that inconvenienced you or slowed you down from making progress in your life... Find something positive in the challenges you faced.
For example, suppose that today you came home to a sink full of dishes, which made you feel grumpy after a long day at work… And this prompted you to create a chore list for the family so that everyone is much less likely to come home to messes at the end of a busy day.
This is something positive because it will help your family become more organized and you'll spend less time cleaning up during those moments when you need to cook, eat and enjoy your favorite activities together.
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Set Your Intention: Create a Gratitude Habit
Once you complete your journaling exercise, you'll have some good ideas about what sorts of intentions you can set for yourself in the name of being more grateful.
Gratitude shouldn’t be a chore or burden. In fact, you can simply set aside just 10 minutes of your time to write down or think of all the blessings that came to you on this day.
*A good time would be during your morning devotions. Before you begin to pray, write down things for which you are thankful.
Before long, gratitude will become a habit, and you'll find it easier to look on the brighter side of situations that arise. You’ll have a better attitude and spirit which will create a good testimony for the cause of Christ.
Set a time: When will you be able to spend time each day focusing on gratitude?
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Bible Verses to Reflect Upon: Focusing on Thankfulness
¨ Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
¨ Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
¨ Psalm 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
¨ Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
¨ Psalm 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
¨ Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
¨ Psalm 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
¨ 2 Corinthians 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
¨ Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
¨ Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Grab your printable Gratitude Journal here:
https://media.publit.io/file/CreatewithMeGifts/Gratitude-Journal.pdf
Spring Cleaning for the Soul #10