If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily. ~ Gerald Good
Two old friends met. One looked down. His friend said, “What’s wrong?” The unhappy man said, “Three weeks ago my rich uncle died and to my surprise I received a check for $10,000.” “Wonderful,” said the friend. The sad man continued, “But sometime after that I got another check for $100,000.”
“Wow!” said the friend. “What a blessing!”
The unhappy man said, “But just two weeks ago I got another check for $250,000.” His friend said, “I don’t understand why you are so unhappy.” The sad man said, “Because this week nothing came.”
Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, wrote, “We become what we think about.” Like the disappointed man in the opening story, a person with a negative attitude tends to focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right. This person is difficult to be around for any period of time and maintaining a relationship with them is draining.
Can a person with a negative attitude be thankful? Probably not. If you asked them what they’re thankful for they would probably be extremely challenged to tell you.
Thinking ungrateful thoughts and taking people and things around them for granted will bring them more things to be ungrateful for. They continue to be an ungrateful person.
On the other hand, a person with a positive attitude is vibrant and has a contagious upbeat energy to them. They consistently see the bright side of things and have a “can-do” attitude.
If you ask them what they’re thankful for, they will be able to list off many. And when you visit with this person, you feel energized, inspired and grateful to know them. It’s safe to say this person is more fulfilled in their life than the unthankful one. Are you thankful or ungrateful?
Thankfulness is more than an act it is a state of being. We teach our children to say, “Thank you” after they’ve been given something but do we teach them to be live in a state of thankfulness. One way we can do this for them and ourselves is by starting a thankfulness or gratitude journal.
This is an excellent idea because it keeps us focused on the positives in our lives. Sit down with your child and write down everything they’re thankful for – nothing is too small to put on this list.
When confronted with life’s frustrations and worries turn to your journal to remind yourself the many exciting and marvelous things you have to be thankful for.
The Pilgrims dug seven times more graves than they built huts. They could have held a pity party but instead they celebrated God’s abundant blessings. From their grateful attitude comes our Thanksgiving Day.
Start your thankfulness journal today.
