GRATITUDE

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation to someone or something for what the person has done to help you.

Gratitude is, in reality, one of the most underappreciated tools we all have at our disposal daily. It doesn’t cost anything to cultivate thankfulness, and it takes very little time, yet the rewards are huge.

Practicing gratitude when things are smooth is easy but when things are rough or tough, it becomes hard stuff to do. For instance, it is easy to thank God when life is going well, when things go the other way, some blame Him or abandon Him to seek alternatives. These alternatives most times cost people what they never bargained for.

Do you know that we are encouraged to be grateful and give thanks amid tough situations? The important thing is to give thanks “in” all things and not ”for”. When it is “for” then it’s conditional but when it is “in”, it means whether good or bad, gratitude must be practiced.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:15–17

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gratitude is a decision we make to search for the positive in every circumstance. Giving thanks in all circumstances may or may not change the situation, but it will always change us. Gratitude is something that we all have the potential to do and should do. Rather than grumbling about what you believe you are entitled to, spend a few seconds to enjoy what you have. What you have might just be what someone else is praying to even have a fraction. Cultivating an “attitude of appreciation” is one of the simplest ways to boost your life satisfaction.

Besides being admonished to practice gratitude in the bible, it has so much benefit to our wholesomeness. Gratitude increases our brain’s dopamine levels (the feel-good chemical!) and encourages us to seek out more of the same. As a result, a study suggests that the more things you are grateful for, the more things you will find to be grateful for.

BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE

1. Gratitude facilitates the development of new relationships and strengthens old relationships. Recognizing the efforts of others might open doors to new possibilities. Gratitude can help you enhance your relationships as well as your physical and emotional health. Growing up, whenever I serve my father food, he says “thank you”. I got married and to my utmost surprise whenever I present my husband his food, he always says “thank you”. Truthfully, it makes one happy inside. And this act would always inspire one to go the extra mile. A lot of husband does not do that as they feel it’s the responsibility of the wife. Gratitude helps partners feel happier with each other in romantic relationships. According to a 2010 study, spouses who expressed thanks to one another reported higher relationship satisfaction and happiness the next day. Another example is when you have someone who always appreciates your little effort towards him or her, whenever such a person comes to you for help, it makes you willing to do more for the person.

2. Gratitude is good for your physical health. According to a 2012 study, grateful people have fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than others. Patients with hypertension who “count their blessings” at least once a week saw their blood pressure drop significantly, leading to improved overall health (Shipon, 1977). Appreciative people appear to be healthy! Whether it’s a substance misuse problem or a medical disease, gratitude may be able to assist those who are suffering in regaining control of their life and getting better. According to research, stress weakens the immune response to possible bodily threats, whereas improved mental well-being can assist the body fight illness.

3. Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude is beneficial to one’s emotional well-being. Gratitude helps to alleviate a wide range of negative feelings, including jealousy, anger, irritation, and regret. Studies back this up. Gratitude is a powerful tool for boosting happiness and reducing depression.

4. Gratitude boosts mental fortitude. Gratitude has been shown in research to help with not only stress reduction but also trauma rehabilitation. Vietnam War veterans who expressed gratitude had lower rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to a study published in the journal Behavior Research and Therapy in 2006. In a 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, gratitude was found to be a significant contributor to resilience in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Recognizing all you have to be thankful for, especially in the face of tragedy, can help you stay resilient.

5. Gratitude can help prevent suicidal thoughts and attempts. Gratitude appears to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation in stressed and depressed people, according to a study on gratitude’s impact on depression, coping, and suicide (Krysinska, Lester, Lyke, & Corveleyn, 2015). Enhancing our appreciation practice can shield us when we are vulnerable. Decrease in the severity of depression symptoms was reported in a study on gratitude, 35% reduction in depressive symptoms were recorded in participants for many weeks, while they practiced gratitude journaling (Seligman et al., 2005). This is a fantastic finding, and it shows that thankfulness writing could be a useful adjunct to depression treatment.

6. Gratitude increases empathy while decreasing hostility. Even when others are less nice, grateful people are more inclined to behave prosocially. Even when given negative feedback, those who practice thankfulness are less inclined to retaliate against others. They show increased sensitivity and empathy for others, as well as a decreased desire for vengeance. They are more compassionate and caring.

7. Grateful people sleep better. According to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, writing in a gratitude diary enhance sleep. Spend at least 15 minutes before bedtime writing down a few appreciative thoughts, and you have a better chance of sleeping better and longer. This invariably improves one’s well-being.

8. Gratitude boosts self-esteem in people. Gratitude was proven to increase athletes’ self-esteem, which is critical for optimal performance, in a 2014 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. In other studies, gratitude has been shown to reduce social comparisons. Rather than becoming enraged by individuals who have more money or better jobs, which is a major cause of low self-esteem, grateful people can appreciate others’ accomplishments.

9. Gratitude can provoke an unusual release of blessing / miracle. Solomon provoked a blessing that has never been, by giving a sacrifice like no other, to show his gratitude to God (1Kings 3). Hannah chose the giver over the gift. She gave thanks despite knowing she has to give up her son and God blessed her with five children afterwards (1 Samuel 2). Jesus gave thanks before there was enough. He had to feed 5000 thousand people but there were only five loaves and two fish. He gave thanks and the miracle of more than enough happened. After the people has eaten to satisfaction, 12 baskets of leftovers yet remained (Matthew 14:13–21). In the midst of a storm, Paul expressed gratitude. Paul took bread, thanked God in front of the entire ship, then broke and distributed the bread. The 276 people on board made it to land safely the next day.(Acts 27)

MORE THAN ANYTHING, PRACTICE GRATITUDE A LOT THIS YEAR, 2022.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

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Dan Moore Kris Gage Wake Up Call P.S. I Love You @writingsolo