A Heart of Thanks

Practicing Gratitude; why it will change your life

Gratitude is more than a word. It is a way of life, a mindset. I became very intentional about practicing gratitude during a really difficult season in my life and it completely transformed my mind and my heart. 

What does it mean to practice gratitude? 

Practicing gratitude is consciously choosing to find something you are grateful for when faced with a negative situation or difficult circumstances. 

This is 100% a choice; it is not something that comes naturally, it is something that you need to practice. When you get bad news or get frustrated with the everyday inconveniences that life brings, choosing to find something you are grateful for WILL make you feel different, in the best way possible. It is not always easy, but it is life changing. Gratitude is POWERFUL! 

It is so easy to complain, to dwell on what is going wrong, to sit in anger and frustration. But, if you choose to challenge yourself, to step out of what is easy to feel and think of something you are thankful for, it will combat that negative feeling. 

Why is this so powerful? 

When you practice gratitude, repeatedly, in times of frustration, anger, bitterness, sadness, you will find that it not only starts to come naturally, but those negative emotions simply have less power. They come and they go quicker than ever before, because overtime, at your core, is a grateful heart. With a grateful heart that is strong, bitterness, anger, resentment, frustration, etc, can’t survive longer than a few moments before gratitude overpowers it. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NIV