GRATEFULNESS
"If you learn to appreciate more of what you already have, you'll find yourself having more to appreciate." - Michael Angier

It’s easy to identify what’s wrong with the world, other people, co-workers, family and even ourselves, that we lose sight of the blessings that we receive from the aforementioned groups.  What we focus on becomes magnified.  If we focus on the problems or faults of others, they increase.  If we focus on the good or strengths of others, they will also grow.

How do we cultivate a habit of gratefulness?

Gratefulness is being appreciative of benefits received or expressing gratitude.  In order to develop the custom, we must move beyond a yearly occurrence to a daily, intentional time of reflection and thanksgiving.  This may be easier said than done and we may run into roadblocks.

A few obstacles to living a life of gratitude:

Not feeling grateful
Solution: Feelings are fickle and can be changed. Identify one thing that you are thankful for and say it out loud or write it down.

Lack of motivation
Enlist someone to help you.  They can be your gratefulness partner who helps you to remember to be thankful daily. This would be mutually beneficial.

Unaware of the benefits
It increases your quality of life. Turns your focus outward away from challenges to blessings.

Practice becomes monotonous
Vary your methods of giving thanks (see below)

Time
Add this to any one of your daily rituals. Start small and increase the time. 

Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot. - Hausa proverb from Nigeria

Some practices for Grateful Living

• Begin and end the day with giving thanks
• Tell at least 3 people you interact with during the day what you appreciate about them
• Send a card, note, or leave a voicemail of gratitude
• Send an e-card or e-mail of gratitude to someone
• Write a poem about being grateful
• Declare a fast from complaints for period of time
• Create a piece of art that reflects gratitude
• Journal daily about how you experienced gratitude
• Find scriptures or quotes about gratefulness and repeat one during the day
• Play songs that inspire gratitude during day

In the words of the Apostle Paul, this is an invitation to be “Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7, NIV).