The Transforming Power of a Grateful HeartSample

Developing a Grateful Mindset

Just like good habits, a grateful mindset will make a huge impact on your personal satisfaction with life. A mindset of gratitude increases mental strength and is registered in the brain as optimism.  Thoughts are such powerful triggers and when repeated frequently, new neural pathways are formed—like well-worn highways in your brain. This happens with any type of repetitive thinking but can be harnessed for positivity with a regular gratitude practice. Frequent thoughts of gratitude trains the brain to choose positive thoughts.

Consistency is the key to changing your mindset and, therefore, your life. Switching your internal chatter to thoughts of gratitude and appreciation doesn’t just happen overnight.  Consider adding new action steps to cultivate a grateful mindset. Here are some suggestions:

•  Start a gratefulness journal. Record personal gratitude daily.

•  Open your eyes to see “all that which is praiseworthy.”

•  Guard your heart and mind by limiting negative input.

•  Express your gratitude to others. 

•  Share and speak about things you are grateful for with those around you

•  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and then yield to His work.

•  Interrupt anxious moments with a good praise and worship song.

•  Break the habit of complaining with a grateful comment.

•  Start learning to see the silver-lining in circumstances.

•  Give others grace and the benefit of the doubt.

•  Imagine what eternal perspective could look like to bring good out of a situation.

•  Volunteer to serve the less fortunate.

•  Meditate every morning and evening on what you are thankful for in your life. 

•  Pause when you find yourself feeling down; think about all the good things in your life. 

•  Read God’s Word daily and with your family.

•  Model and encourage a grateful heart in your home.

•  Pray daily and also together with others you love.

•  Model a life of thoughtfulness and sacrifice for others.

Gratitude is a mindset just like ingratitude is. A grateful heart leads us to more of everything—more satisfaction, more hope, more joy, even better relationships. Gratitude turns what we have into enough. True gratitude is a daily choice that will impact your life for the better. 

Ponder these thoughts: God is completely good. God is constantly good. God is unchangeably good. God will never not be good. God could never be less than good. Everything our God does is good. God gives you a peace that passes understanding. God gives you the Holy Spirit to convict, strengthen, encourage. God gives you His Word as a guide. God gives you health to bless you. God gives you friends to love you. God gives you life to enjoy. God has never stopped being good; we have just started being grateful.

I am living proof that there is a beautiful and transforming power in a grateful heart. Won’t you consider this life-changing habit?

Ponder:

Consider reasons that you are not as grateful as you might want to be. What does gratitude look like in your life? Besides the habit of gratitude, do you have a mindset of gratitude?

Prayer:

Lord I need you and I am grateful for Your unending goodness to me. Help me develop a mindset of gratitude for all You are and have given me. I want to focus on You and all my blessings.

PLAN END NOTE: Roxanne's passion is to speak life-giving truths into the hearts of others. She loves to speak at retreats and conventions. She hosts her own DEEPER Intensive and RISE UP coaching workshops and works with clients nationwide as a personal life coach. You can contact her, order her new book and get more information at RoxanneParks.com. She would be honored to connect with you.