Why Try Gratitude?

Gratitude is defined in Webster’s dictionary as “the state of being grateful”. When Webster’s shows examples it says, “Let me express my sincere gratitude for all of your help” and “We remember with gratitude those who died defending our country.” When you look at synonyms you will find words such as appreciation and thankfulness. Related words are gratification, indebtedness, satisfaction and acknowledgement.

So what are we grateful for? Are we grateful for our kids, our job, for forgiveness, or our second-chance we received? We think it’s different for each one of us depending on the day and time.

The opposite of gratitude is thanklessness or being ungrateful. We really think it’s being unsatisfied. It’s not being fulfilled by what we have done, what we are doing, and where we are going. It’s not being satisfied with everything we have received from the clothes on our back, to our spiritual forgiveness.

Gratitude is something that doesn’t always come easy. For most of us, it requires work and a conscious effort to express it on a daily basis – through our prayers, conversations, and actions. But even though it requires a little work, just a few moments spent focusing on what you’re grateful for can instantly change your frame of mind and bring more happiness into your life.

We find that when we show gratitude, and talk about what we’re grateful for on a daily basis, it changes our perspective and we focus on the good, instead of everything we want to change about our lives. We practice showing gratitude in our home on a daily basis. It’s pretty simple when it comes down to it. We teach our kids to say “thank you”; we ask each other and our kids what they’re favorite part of the day was. From an outside perspective, we have much to be grateful for – our marriage is solid and happy, our kids are healthy, we laugh a lot, we live in a beautiful town, with great neighbors and a church where we belong. Compared to many others, our life is pretty great. But from our own perspective, it’s all too easy to get caught up in everything that we don’t have when compared to others, or compared to our own standards. It’s easy to forget the small blessings that occur all around us, every day. Something as small as a good cup of coffee on a spring morning, or a hug from our kids, or a garage door that opens each time we come home. And when we pause, and reflect, and remind ourselves that life is good, we can once again be grateful.

The amazing side effect of gratitude is that when we deliberately cultivate gratitude in our own lives, it not only increases our own happiness and well-being, it spreads to the people around us. Attitudes are lifted and we’re more likely to give back and contribute to the world around us.

It can turn bad things into good things. There are nights when our 2 yr old makes us question why we have kids. Then we remind ourselves of the struggles we went through to bring her into this world. Her screaming and fit-throwing doesn’t seem like such a big deal after all, and we can look at each other and laugh while she carries on.

The thing that a lot of people forget is that gratitude isn’t just a great moment in your day that fills you up. Gratitude is a choice and something you practice. Like anything else, the more you practice, the better you get at it, and the easier it comes to you. The more it becomes a daily ritual in conscious expression, the more it will become an unconscious action.

So give gratitude a try. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

With Thanks,

Zach