Cultivating Thankfulness

Nurturing a spirit of gratitude no matter what you’re facing

Ever had one of those mornings? 

A few weeks ago, on a Monday morning, no less, I woke up right before my alarm went off. I’d been in the middle of a stressful dream, full of me rushing around trying to get a project done for work, but I was confused and seemingly meeting resistance at every turn. 

Somehow, the rest of the morning felt rushed and hurried, much like the dream. I kept worrying about a family member who is always on my mind these days. And when I got in my car to drive to the office (and faced a truly light commute), I admitted to myself that I was in a bad mood. “Focus on what you’re thankful for,” I reminded myself, and as I drove down the highway, I started to count those blessings. 

Was it a magic switch that changed very real stressors and relieved tension in an instant? No. Were the things that were causing me to feel fearful and anxious magically gone? No. But my focus and my mindset had shifted. While the hard things didn’t magically disappear, I had lifted my eyes to the hills—and the thankfulness exercise helped me to see that I wasn’t alone, forgotten or overlooked but rather deeply loved. If it matters to you, it matters to him. 

We live in a always-wanting-more kind of world—and it’s way too easy to get caught in that cycle. Rather than stay focused on the day’s stressful circumstances or an endless loop of what-ifs and why-didn’t-I-do-thats, we have to actively choose to shift our focus and lift our gaze. Here are a few ways we’re looking to do that and cultivate a little thankfulness this summer. 

1. Make thankfulness a practice. Whether you decide to record what you’re thankful for in a gratitude journal at the end of each week or just spend a few minutes telling God what you’re thankful for during your daily walk or commute, find a way to fold thankfulness into your routine.
   

2. Volunteer. One time when I was mired in a lot of negative thoughts and just a season of sadness, I remember a friend telling me that a powerful way to combat those feelings was to go do something for someone else. Maybe there’s a ministry in your neighborhood or at your church that you could devote a little time to. Perhaps you have an elderly or sick neighbor who could use help getting the mail or making sure the trashcan is at the curb on trash day. Maybe your kid’s school has an afterschool program or summer camp that you could be a part of. It’s easy to get focused on all the things that aren’t going so well in our lives, but when we lay all of that down and seek to serve others, God often opens our eyes to his provision, mercy and grace—and we can’t help but respond with gratitude! 
   

3. Write thank-you notes. Not long ago, I ended up at the same restaurant on a Sunday after church with a dear, sweet family from my church. They invited me and my group to join them at their table and then quietly paid for all of our meals. As I drove home, I kept thinking about how kind that was and how much of a blessing it was to me. So, that next week, I sent a thank-you note. That’s a small example, but if someone does something that blesses you, find a way to express your gratitude, especially when it’s God who is doing the blessing. Say thank you, even if it’s a sentence prayer in the moment. Tell others about it. And if you can, put it in writing, even if it’s a thank-you note to God that you never send. There’s something about thinking and writing out our blessings that helps us to recognize and focus on them more.
   

4. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Rather than assuming the worst of your coworker, friend or spouse, make an effort to assume that the people you’re interacting with—especially those with whom you have long standing, caring relationships—have good intentions. Most people we love and live in relationship with aren’t trying to hurt us with their words or actions; sometimes, the way we interpret those interactions is the problem. So, rather than assuming the other person’s intentions are to hurt you, choose to give them the benefit of the doubt. Approaching the world with a positive attitude instead of always assuming the negative will help you begin to recognize more reasons to be thankful all around you!
   

5. Quiet your heart and mind. “I don’t have much to be thankful for,” you may be thinking, as you hurry from one appointment to the next, grabbing a few groceries on the way home from work before you drive to the ballfield for a game. Some seasons of our lives are absolutely exhausting, and you know you’re there when you start saying things like, “If I can just get through this week, I’ll be fine.” Each day, try to take a little time to yourself and focus on how you’ve seen God at work around you recently. Pay attention to his creation, take a walk, note the wildflowers in bloom or the lightning bugs dotting the sky at dusk. And take a deep breath and say thank you to the God who has created little moments of beauty in the world around us to remind us of his presence and care.

How do you cultivate thankfulness in your daily life? Share your ideas and tips on the comments!