Can gratitude change your life?
Each November as the autumn wind ushers in the new month, inevitably, (at least for my fellow American readers), we are bombarded with messages regarding being thankful and expressing gratitude simply because we celebrate Thanksgiving in this season.
Everywhere we look we are admonished to “Be Thankful” or “Count Your Blessings.” Inspirational quotes and catchy phrases float across our screens and fill the store shelves.
And though I am a huge proponent of the power of gratitude and thankfulness, the commercialized bombardment we always see in November makes me ponder, Do these messages help or hinder? Do the commercialized reminders cheapen the message, reducing the power gratitude and thankfulness can have in our lives?
The practice of gratitude is one that has personally helped me immensely, and I’ve seen it help others. There is something about the intentional act of giving thanks that has the ability to shift perspectives and deeply change hearts and minds.
However, I think the commercialized catch-phrases and flippant statements about being thankful really have cheapened the message, and perhaps, reduced a deeply impactful practice to a trite tradition.
The phrases are thrown around so casually, that when the topic is broached as an effective practice for deep change, it can be tempting to brush it aside, or even roll your eyes, as the suggestion is offered on a silver platter, as nothing more than the Turkey by which it is accompanied: momentarily gratifying, but not long-lasting.
What about you?
Does the practice of gratitude hold the promise of a fulfilling, life-changing pursuit, or cause you to roll your eyes and dismiss it as nothing more than a commercialized, overdone tradition?
As I mentioned, I have found gratitude to be a powerful tool in my own life and is one I implement in both my home and coaching practice, but it is sometimes met with resistance–and yes–even an eye roll or two!
Even though gratitude and thankfulness get thrown around so casually–often in a cheesy, cheap, commercialized way–I still hold to the opinion that being thankful and intentionally implementing the practice of gratitude into your life is hugely beneficial.
November may give us our yearly reminder to think about all the things for which we are thankful, and it’s not uncommon or wrong to list out all the good things we appreciate during this month, even if it is a little cheesy.
However, this type of gratitude is often only surface, never penetrating deeply enough to produce the type of change I’ve experienced and know is possible.
So, what makes the difference?
How can we put the practice of gratitude back into a meaningful place and use it as the life-changing tool it can be and take it back from the overdone, commercialized, and even trite tradition it has become?
First, I believe it is important to understand that the practice of gratitude and thanksgiving is far more than making lists of things, people, and experiences that give us warm fuzzy feelings.
This type of gratitude is superficial and is the reason for so many eye rolls.
This type of thankfulness is nothing more than a trite ritual.
tritetrīt
adjective
- Not evoking interest because of overuse or repetition; hackneyed.
- Worn out; common; used until so common as to have lost novelty and interest; hackneyed; stale
- Worn out; hackneyed; used so many times that it is no longer interesting or effective (often in reference to a word or phrase). ~Wordnik
If we want to experience the life-changing benefit of gratitude and thanksgiving, we need to understand the deeper meanings.
The Bible is full of references to thanksgiving and gratitude (It comes up over 170 times depending on your translation!). In fact, thanksgiving is so important that it is one of the things we are told is the will of God for us.
Here are a few examples:
- “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV
- “15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:15-17, ESV
- “In every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.” Acts 24:3, ESV (Emphasis mine).
With so many references and admonishments to incorporate this practice into our lives, we should probably take heed and look at it as an important life-changing practice.
As Christians, we can take the trite secularized tradition back and implement it as the powerful Spiritual Discipline that it is.
How do we do that?
If we look at 1 Thessalonians 5:18 again, we notice that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, which suggests that thankfulness is to be our way of life–our state of being–not merely a list of good things we appreciate.
We are to live in gratitude as our default, regardless of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves.
Really? All circumstances? Yes, although it is easy to be grateful when life is going well, in difficult times, giving thanks can be hard–but not impossible.
It is only possible when we understand that there is only one reason we can be thankful all the time.
If we know Jesus, our eternity is secure. He has paid the price for every unholy act, thought, or decision we have ever made.
The message I see throughout scripture is that when we realize our utter depravity and truly understand that without Christ we would have no hope at all, gratitude should be our natural response. When we remember that apart from Christ there is only death, thankfulness for His saving grace should envelop us in every situation.
However, in general, we seem more prone to complain than offer thanks. Thanksgiving often doesn’t come naturally at all.
This is where the Spiritual Discipline of choosing to be thankful comes in–and it might have to start with that cheesy list, as trite as it may seem. When we practice something deeply and habitually, it becomes more and more natural, and eventually, can become our default.
Another huge distinction between gratitude as a practice, as opposed to a trite tradition, is to remember to whom we are to give our gratitude. When we focus merely on the rote routine, our hearts are not engaged. When our focus is instead placed on the Giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), our souls are impacted in a positive way, producing lasting change.
Our list can become an act of worship when we write it on our souls.
When we put our focus on Him and not things, people, and possessions, it is easier to live a lifestyle of gratitude because everything else truly does pale in comparison to Him.
Intentionally expressing our thankfulness to God helps us remember that He is in control, and will use all things–the warm fuzzy ones and the distasteful– for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28).
And that is how the practice of gratitude becomes Life-Changing.
Read more: A Surprisingly Simple Way To Make Your Life Better
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Connect with me in the comments. ♥
Oh, what an outstanding post! You know, my hubby and I have spoken about this so many times! I especially love what you said about living in a state of gratitude or thankfulness “by default”. That’s it! And it’s a lesson my family recently learned well as we purchased a new home in East TN. If anything COULD go wrong, it DID, and I felt myself pummeling down the gutter of disdain. My husband reminded me that we are to be content in ALL things, and then you write this 🙂 It is a breath of fresh air, my sister, and I will be sharing it, especially NOW. Thank you!
“Pummeling down the gutter of disdain” Oh, I have been there, too, although never would have thought to express it that way. Thank you for sharing your experience–in this with you!! ❤️
I am thankful to God for my wonderful family. Thankful for Lindsey and her gifts! Mom
And I’m thankful for you 😘