Gratitude Changes Everything
Thanksgiving reminds me of how important it is to be grateful. It’s a special time to reflect on all we have been given and the blessings we have. And, cultivating gratitude is the perfect way to prepare our hearts for the craze of the coming Christmas season. I often find myself struggling to focus more on the gift of Jesus than on shopping for everyone on my list, creating Christmas magic around my house, or making time for holiday events. I don’t know about you, but the business of the season can completely get in the way of feeling grateful.
Let’s claim a thankful heart now, as we are about to jump into the chaos of the holidays. Take a moment to sit in gratitude. Here are three important reasons to practice gratitude:
GRATITUDE IS A MAGNET FOR GOOD THINGS
Gratitude brings peace to a world that wants to strip peace away, and it allows us to focus on abundance. Over time, an abundance mindset will become a way of life. When we focus on abundance, everything we do is impacted. Good things follow as we are filled with quiet joy, regardless of our circumstances.
GRATITUDE KEEPS US FOCUSED
When you love what you have, you have everything you need. When we have everything we need, we aren’t constantly searching for external items or people to make us happy. Instead, we can focus on the one who provides all of our needs and blessings. We can ignore the lies of the world that tell us we need more: More stuff. More friends. More power. More control. The quest for more ultimately keeps us in a prison of discontentment.
GRATITUDE KEEPS US FROM FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “We can complain because our rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because our thorn bushes have roses.” Perspective, my friends, is everything. Just remember, someone else is happy with less than you have. Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Gratitude reminds us that we are enough.
Gratitude changes everything. It keeps us free from the comparison game, from the trap of perfectionism; it unchains us from the snare of negative self-talk. Here are some practical tips for your family as you move toward a spirit of gratitude: get a gratitude journal; start a gratitude jar (write on slips of paper things you are all grateful for); or have family members share one thing they are grateful for at dinner every night—not just on Thanksgiving. I think you will notice a difference!
You are amazing! Start living like it!
Kim Anderson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-MHSP) and a Certified Life Professional Coach (CPLC) who loves helping others live their lives with passion and purpose. She lives with her husband and two teenagers outside of Nashville, in Franklin, Tennessee, where she loves seasons, rolling hills, and the warmth of the South. Follow Kim at www.kimanderson.life, on Instagram @kim_anderson_life, and on Facebook@ KimAndersonLifeCoachingto learn more about what she offers.