“Lord, instead of experiencing only a short- lived burst of gratitude, I want to learn to remain in an attitude of thankful Joy— letting my gratefulness spill over into the future.”
– Jesus Listens, February 29th
Years ago, when I was faced with the most difficult time in my life, the last thing I wanted to do was express gratitude. For what? I thought. I have nothing to be thankful for! Nothing. My life is falling apart. My marriage is falling apart. I have no peace. I’m miserable! Those were my dominant thoughts.
I desperately needed a turnaround. One day, I heard a minister say, “Stop looking at everything you’ve lost in your life and start looking at everything you have left. And start thanking God for it.”
It was late one evening when I walked into my kitchen and with tears pouring down my cheeks, I forced myself to lift my hands and say, “Thank You, Father, for…” I had to pause and think. What do I have to be thankful for? Surely there was one thing. And then it dawned on me. “Thank You, Father, for my precious little redheaded girl sleeping upstairs. I prayed for a baby after losing one, and then you gave me the very desire of my heart, Lord.” I walked around the kitchen, and another thought came to me. “Thank You, Father, for my best friend. She knows everything I’m going through and she still loves me, encourages me, and believes in me.” And I persisted, “Thank You, Lord, for my job. I am so grateful I didn’t lose my job with all this turmoil going on in my life.” The laps around the kitchen continued. “Thank You, Jesus, for this house I live in. I’m so grateful I get to live here.”
Each time I voiced my gratitude, the sadness felt like it physically lifted off me. The misery would fade. And joy would be released in my heart. It was a tangible feeling of breathing lighter and experiencing greater peace.
Listen to what God says: “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God” (Philippians 4:6 AMPC). Those two little words, with thanksgiving, have more impact than you can imagine.
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth did an in-depth study on the effects of gratitude and discovered just how much it contributes to your success. People who show more gratitude are reported to have higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy, and they also get better sleep. Success coaches advise that gratitude is one of the greatest attributes of successful people.
Here are my top five benefits of journaling your gratitude:
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Less Stress – It’s been proven that focusing on feelings of appreciation naturally counters stress. When you focus on the good things in life rather than the pressures, your stress levels lower. One study found that after twenty-one days of journaling gratitude, you retrain your brain to start automatically looking for the positives. After forty-two days, levels of depression and anxiety decrease and levels of happiness increase.
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Greater Self-Esteem – Journaling gratitude about your life helps you appreciate what God is doing for you, rather than comparing your life with what’s happening around you and with others.
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Better Sleep – Research shows that before you turn in for the night, focusing on a few things you are grateful for will lead to a much better night’s sleep. By thinking of the uplifting things that happened during your day or reminding yourself of something you are thankful for, you clear your mind of anxiety and restlessness, promoting peaceful sleep.
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Increased Optimism – As you shift your focus from complaining to gratitude, you naturally become more optimistic. Instead of scanning the world looking for negativity, you’ll be magnifying all the amazing things in life. And you’ll be a much more pleasant person to be around.
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Mood Boost – Writing what you’re grateful for makes your memories feel more real and concrete. As you reflect on previous entries, you can’t help but feel a boost in your mood as you realize entry after entry is proof that good things are happening in your life. The more grateful you are, the more you’ll have to journal about.
Plan to journal gratitude during your devotion and prayer routine or before you go to bed each night. When you do it at the same time each day, it will become a habit. Write whatever comes up in your heart. It can be as simple as the day off at home, the sun shining, the cupcake your friend brought you, or the new book you just purchased. It doesn’t have to only be the huge, enormous breakthrough occurrences.
I’m telling you from experience and from the testimonies of thousands, expressing gratitude puts you on a path to success. God will open doors in your life that you never dreamed possible. Why? Because you’re acknowledging every single thing He does, and you’re giving no attention to the distractions complaining brings. You will be amazed at how a simple shift in your attitude from complaining to expressing gratitude can bring fulfillment, relief from stress and anxiety, new blessings, an atmosphere of peace, a sense of the presence of God, strength in your body, and realization of your dreams.
About the Author
Terri Savelle Foy is the founder of an international Christian ministry. She is the host of the Live Your Dreams television broadcast, an author, a conference speaker, and a success coach to hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. Her latest book, The Alone Advantage, reveals why successful people spend time alone and the ten game-changing habits for personal growth, clear thinking, and unprecedented achievement. Connect online at www.terri.com.
