Gratitude is a chosen state of being.
Gratitude involves being thankful but is also much more than that.
It is an attitude of appreciation, no matter the circumstance. Gratitude is the continuous flow of being thankful.
Being grateful is about appreciating what one has, as opposed to what one wants. It goes hand in hand with mindfulness in its focus on the present, as in, what I have now.
Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude actually rewires the brain. You become healthier, happier and resilient.
When there is gratitude, obstacles become an opportunity for growth.
Hard things are embraced.
Ordinary life turns into days brimming with miracles.
Relationships are gifts.
Joy, happiness and peace are byproducts of this attitude.
Again, gratitude is the continuous flow of being thankful; a state of being.
The kids and I are working our way through the book of Colossians right now; gratitude is a theme in this rich book. Check it out:
May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father… 1:11-12
Let your roots grow down in Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 2:7
Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts… And always be thankful. 3:15
Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 3:17
Try it! Begin by weaving gratitude into the daily threads of your life. Verbally thank God or someone for something, every waking hour. Then start doing it oftener. Then start practicing gratitude when things get tough – when circumstances lead to a different-than-originally-planned path.
Make gratitude the individual notes strung throughout your day, so that when played as a whole song, it becomes a melody of praise to the One who sits enthroned above.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this [giving thanks] is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18