Growing in Gratitude
Posted by Kristin Andress on March 15th, 2011 in Blog, Inspire and Empower | 5 Comments
Do you think about gratitude very often or show it to others— your family members or even yourself? We can get so caught up in the busyness of life that the gratitude we actually feel inside or could be generating goes by the wayside. Not anymore! It is time to grow in gratitude. As we move into spring, it’s the perfect season to plant your personal garden of gratitude. All is in bloom and colors emerge. You will have ample opportunities to pay more attention to the gifts in your life. As you do, the feeling of thankfulness and appreciation will multiply.
There are so many ways to show and grow in gratitude. Here are a few:
- At the breakfast and/or dinner table have each person indicate what they choose to be grateful for today, and who needs to know about it.
- Simply take time to smile and say thank you to a busy clerk or server.
- Leave a compliment on a sticky note for your mail carrier.
- Keep a gratitude journal listing of everyone you are thankful for.
- Tell someone how much he or she means to you.
- Stop the car, put it in park, get out and breathe in the life you have been given.
It helps to be reminded to not take for granted the many good things we could be acknowledging. We get used to what we know, but when we miss it, are away from it, or God forbid, lose it - we wake up to what we already have. Make a list of everything in your life that you appreciate. Read the list at least once a week. Remind yourself that even as you and your life are in process, you must appreciate the right now. Teach your children to do the same. We are surrounded by abundance, and often need to be reminded to open our eyes to see it. Take nothing for granted.
Your intentional, daily awakening to your gratitude will contribute to a positive attitude and to your growth as an individual and a family living in a world that can include a daily sense of springtime and newness. Enjoy each other, each day, and the vibrancy of life. Live in gratitude.
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Gratitude..seems to be becoming a lost art..as a ministry leader and public school educator, I have seen gratitude on the slow decline…so I have been on a mission to “spread gratitude” and help others to see situations as “half-full”…so gratefully I thank you for this post..LOL
Gratitude..seems to be becoming a lost art..as a ministry leader and public school educator, I have seen gratitude on the slow decline…so I have been on a mission to “spread gratitude” and help others to see situations as “half-full”…so gratefully I thank you for this post..LOL
Kristin,
This topic needs frequent reminding! I started a Grateful Journal in January - I want to be conscious of the little things I am grateful each and every day. The Bible reminds us that “to those who have been given much, much is expected”, most of our cups are full - I do hope we have hearts to share. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you Kristin. Beautiful topic…another way is to pay for someone’s lunch or coffee! Gratitude because we have the Lord — the King of Kings and He is in control of it all!
“Grateful” is my “sincerely” for all correspondence. I think it’s one of the best words in the English language! I am grateful you blogged about this today!