Gratitude

Encourage

I was homeschooling my kids and the assigned Level 3 copywork was this quote:

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”― William Arthur Ward

I was so struck by it that I whipped out my cardstock and fancy pens and penned the quote right beside her. (Humbly, her handwriting is better and she’s 8!)

Just moments before I was annoyed by all the “jobs” I had to accomplish that day and feeling frustrated that there didn’t seem to be enough time. Then this reframe stopped me in my tracks. These '“jobs” are the answer to a million prayers over the last two decades of walking with the Lord and what a joy it is that He has chosen me to be a wife and mother and nurse practitioner and small group participant and leader in kids ministry and best friend and gym goer and neighbor. This common day is filled with such occasion for thanksgiving, especially when I take a moment to thank the giver of every good gift!

Equip

These are my favorite tools for cultivating a grateful heart:

• Graticube by Good Kind (Makers of Advent Blocks)

• Yearly Gratitude Journal

• Car Rhythm: Can you guys name 3 things your grateful for? *I make a point to ask them this if we’re stuck in traffic

Educate

This 2023 study from Brazil was a meta-analysis of over 64 studies and concluded: The results demonstrate that acts of gratitude can be used as a therapeutic complement for treating anxiety and depression and can increase positive feelings and emotions in the general population.

How incredible is that! We can help our anxiety and depression with gratitude practices.

What is your favorite way to cultivate gratitude?