Are you struggling to find a smile in your heart today? If so, it’s time to create a gratitude list.
A mindset of gratitude helps us improve our outlook, increase our sense of happiness, and fight the effects of stress. Whether you are weary and blue or energized and hopeful, creating a gratitude list is a simple way to improve your mood and refresh your mindset.
The more we practice focusing on gratitude, the easier it become to see the blessings in your life instead of just the problems.
“Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” ~ Charles Dickens
Sometimes the easiest way to get started is to look at an example, so I’ve writing a gratitude list to inspire you.
Here’s my gratitude list for the fall of 2022
First and foremost, I’m thankful for…
- Playing with my grandson
- All I’ve learned this year about writing and speaking
- The beautiful view out my office window
- A husband who comes home every night for dinner
- The mentors I’ve discovered through virtual workshops
- My health and ability to do work I love
- My mother’s living situation and many friends
- Safety on several day-long drives to attend out-of-state conferences
- The opportunities I’ve had this year to venture into new areas of ministry
- Two award-winning novels
- Two sons who are working in fields they enjoy
- Opportunities to make an audience laugh
- Holiday times with family
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” ~ Cicero
The easy-to-overlook things. I’m thankful for…
- Living in this scenic spot, with wooded hillsides and broad farming valleys
- The computer working when I turn it on
- A nearby public library that provides free and easy access to thousands of books (and no late fines)
- Clean socks
- Modern conveniences from dishwashers to paper towels to frozen pizza
- Reliable electricity and clean running water
- An abundance of notebooks to scribble my thoughts and ideas on
- A guest room that allows us to host family and friends overnight
- Music I can listen to whenever I wish
- The skill of the artists who made each beautiful object in my house
- Watching birds at the feeder while I eat lunch
- Ordering hard-to-find ingredients with the click of a button
- Tap water that tastes good
“This a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” ~ Maya Angelou
Simple pleasures. I’m thankful for…
- A soft, fuzzy blanket to snuggle under while I read
- Calli, my affectionate cat who loves to snooze in my lap
- A warm cup of tea on a chilly afternoon
- Fresh-baked gluten-free muffins on a Sunday morning
- Walls filled with a lifetime of collected photos and art
- A nibble of aged Gouda or dark chocolate
- Chances to catch up with old friends
- FaceTime calls with my son and grandson
- Hand soap with scents that make me smile
- A vase full of happy flowers to brighten up the kitchen
- Coffee that isn’t pumpkin spice
- A husband who washes dishes to show he loves me
- Wooded paths where I can walk and ponder
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~ Robert Brault
Digging deeper. I’m thankful that…
- I don’t need to be perfect to make a positive difference to people’s lives
- My worth is based on how God sees me, not how others see me.
- I have friends who appreciate my quietly unconventional quirkiness
- I can share my thoughts to encourage others on this blog
- I’m not stuck in my past mistakes, because God’s grace is new every morning
- I can say no
- I can say yes
- Many experienced writers, speakers and ministry leaders have taken the time to encourage me and coach me.
- I can enjoy ministry opportunities that keep me challenged and engaged
- I can rely on the promises of God, who loves me and has a good plan for my life
- My success isn’t based on how tidy my house is or how much I achieve in a day
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” ~ Thornton Wilder
And, finally…
- Faith, hope, and love
“The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” ~ James E. Faust
What’s on your gratitude list?
Now it’s your turn.
I sat down and spent about half an hour creating this gratitude list. If I can come up with 51 things in 30 minutes, you can come up with 10 things in 5 minutes or less.
Better yet, challenge yourself to keep going until you hit 25 reasons to be grateful. You’ll be surprised at what will pop into your head when you start to ponder the good in your life.
Ad the more you think about the life reality your gratitude list represents, the better you’ll feel. So, grab a piece of paper and get started!
