The Thing About Gratitude
I was watching “My Lottery Dream Home” and noticed that a couple that recently won the lottery was searching for a sensible home in Nashville. The only requirement: A laundry room. The first home had an unfinished basement with an individual washer and dryer. She began to cry. No longer living in an apartment meant that she didn’t have to share a laundry room with anyone else.
Our van had a get a few repairs this week and they offered another van until it was fixed. The loaner van didn’t have a heated steering wheel and I thought my fingers were going to need medical attention all week.
I’ve gotten pretty comfortable and I haven’t been thankful enough for it.
Multiple scientific studies have shown that a gratitude mindset and gratitude exercises are positively associated with improved mood, relationships, and well being (Sansone & Sansone, 2010).
It takes emotional intelligence to express appreciation and thankfulness. One needs to be confident in accurately understanding the experience that they are grateful for, they have to be able to choose words and methods to communicate effectively, and recognize that thanks and appreciation might not be reciprocated. Gratitude might be easy for some and difficult for others, but it’s something we can all work on.
There are many places in the Bible that call us to give thanks and express gratitude for each other.
God knows that gratitude can’t exist at the same time as fear and anxiety.
God knows that gratitude can’t exist while we hold onto idols of money and wealth.
God knows that we can’t hang onto bitterness and resentment while also being grateful.
God knows we are more patient with the ones we love when we are more grateful.
God knows that connection and belonging are core to our survival and relationships deepen when gratitude is shared.
It’s so easy to focus on what isn’t going well and what we have yet to do. We live busy lives full of lists, appointments, and events.
It’s cold, eggs cost $5 a dozen, my kids still randomly visit me in the middle of the night, and some people just suck sometimes.
I have a lot of power in setting and maintaining the mood and mindset wherever I am. Certainly as one of the leaders in my home my kids look to me and learn how they should think and respond to both trials and successes. (Our attitude flows of our core beliefs).
I’m going to do better today and every day I can to express gratitude and thankfulness to my God and the people I love.
Maybe this can help you too.
I’m really looking forward to some upcoming speaking engagements where I’ll get to share more about my passion for women’s mental health and wellness.
It’s been neat to see that so many are interested in learning about the impact of trauma and I look forward to continuing to serve you in whatever ways I can.
If there’s enough interest, I will lead a 6 week faith-based group for women that have experienced sexual abuse. I’ll begin reserving spots for up to 5 women that will start the 3rd week of March. Feel free to check it out or pass along to whomever you think might be interested
