We are at the final post in this blog series on “Mindset Shift.” I would love to hear if you have applied any of the things in the previous posts and how it’s going.
The one tool, in your Mindset Toolbox, that you must not lose sight of in order to stay the course is GRATITUDE.
The words we hear around thankfulness flows easy a lot of the time. “Thanks” becomes a general response, but does not equate to thankfulness being applied in one’s life. If not applied, there’s no root to live by.
“As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that the highest appreciation is
not to utter words but to live by them.”
John F. Kennedy
I have been struggling a lot over the past month. I have been short tempered and really just feeling unsettled. Definitely not my usual self. I’ve gone through seasons like this before where I am out of kilter. I know there is something going on that I need to pay attention to.
I became aware that I was minimizing my time with God each day. My husband and I have been on the road a whole lot this year; most recently the last couple of weeks. My roots were getting weak because I wasn’t keeping my priorities straight and I lost sight of so much that I have to be grateful for. In turn, my actions at times were not who I desire to be. Goodness, how quickly this can happen!
I am also reminded in these “out of kilter” seasons how thankful I am for a past that has tried to beat me up way too many times. My past humbles me.
Thankfully, when I’m dealing with adversity, I always come back to the place of remembering how God saved me from myself.
Guess what that results in? Yep, you got it – gratitude!
I am filled with thankfulness for where I am and whose I am. (that’s not a typo!!!)
What about you?
Are you able to remember all that God has done for you? When the due dates are upon you, the kids have to go to the doctor, you don’t feel so hot yourself and your boss says you have to stay late at the office on yet another new project. Is there room for gratitude?
I know it gets tough to say “thanks” in the middle of the storms of life. I also get that many storms in this life are much worse than our day in and day out busyness. Sadly, we have much to see right now in how true this is.
Learning to cultivate a mindset of gratitude is the key to staying the course when the course is nothing that you expected it to be.
There are many scriptures to help with cultivating a gratitude mindset. These are just a few:
– Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. – Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
– And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:20 (NLT)
– 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 3:17 (ESV)
– and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. – 1Thessalonians 5:18 (NCV)
– Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. – James 1 (MSG)
Some simple ways to cultivate an attitude of gratitude DAILY:
– Pray and meditate on the above scriptures to get or stay focused.
– Keep a gratitude journal.
– Name 3 things and 3 people you are grateful for EVERYDAY. Put this on your calendar if you need to!
– Pay it forward.
In the last blog post, Challenges in Change: Winning the War, I mentioned the use of affirmations. Remember that affirmations must be repeated over and over again to become a habitual way of thinking. Repeating affirmations is a process of becoming aware of your thoughts and words on a daily basis.
A Handful of Gratitude Affirmations:
Everyday I am thankful for the blessings in my life.
Everyday I give thanks for all that I have, and all that I am, in my life.
Everyday I thank God for grace, love, mercy and protection.
Everyday I am becoming more and more thankful for my life.
Gratitude is not a mindset reserved for the Thanksgiving season.
It is a mindset that effects you everyday of the year.
Check yourself on this mindset shift journey! Write down everyday for a week how you have practiced gratitude. Take some quiet time to review what you’ve written all week and what results you are experiencing.
DO YOU NEED A MINDSET SHIFT?
A Harvard Mental Health Letter states: “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Wow – could you use some of those things!
THE POWER OF YOUR MINDSET(S) IS HUGE!
I’ve been offering a FREE “Mindset Power” session through this blog series.
Have you taken advantage of that?
There’s no better time than right NOW!
Love these Bible Verses, thanks Debbie!
Thank you Mary Lou!