Practicing gratitude pays off for your health and relationships
Thanksgiving will be here soon, and it has me thinking about what I’m #grateful for. How can #gratitude change your life? Let’s take a deeper look in today’s Points to Ponder.
Back in October, the Lord prompted me to start intentionally making gratitude a part of each day. I thought others might also benefit from taking time to practice gratefulness, so I started a private Facebook group. Together, we’ve been participating in a “30 Days of Thankfulness” Challenge. We’ve encouraged each other to practice thankfulness through daily online posts, photos and scriptures.
I’ve learned so much during these past few weeks, and I’d like to share with you what I’ve discovered. Here goes:
No. 1: Prayer is a great place to start
If you are a person of faith, consider incorporating thankfulness more greatly into your prayer time. Philippians 4:6 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” You can voice your concerns and requests as the “meat” in the middle.
Think about that: What will it feel like to practice the prayer sandwich when you pray today?
No. 2: Start a daily practice
There are lots of ways to practice gratitude daily. (Tune in next week as I detail this more in-depth just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.)
If you are having trouble connecting to what you are grateful for, use your senses as a guide.
What did you see this week that impacted you? What did you taste that nourished you? What did you smell that made you smile? What did you touch that comforted you? What did you hear that brought you joy?
No. 3: Research confirms it
Quite a bit of research has been conducted that links gratitude with your sense of well-being and greater happiness. Studies suggest that practicing thankfulness can positively impact your health in four main areas: physical, emotional, spiritual and relationships. Feeling grateful also creates a more relaxed body state and allows you to experience lowered stress levels.
Ready to get started?
Hearing this information, how inspired are you to get started in practicing gratefulness?
If you still aren’t how to start your gratitude practice, contact me through my website at Your Christian Coach dot net or message me on Facebook at Your Christian Coach.
Thanks for joining me. Don’t forget: Come back next week to learn about more thankfulness practices just in time for the holiday. I’ll see you then, as we chat more about Points to Ponder.
If your life is changing and you’re not sure what’s your next step, Jo Heather, as a credentialed coach, can help. Find out more on this site or search the web @YourChristianCoach, @JoHeatherDodson, or @JoHeather.