How to be More Thankful for the Blessings in Your Life

Recently we wrote a post about what the bible says about being thankful, and how we can reflect on scripture in this season of giving thanks. But taking a step back, how can we learn to simply be more thankful with the blessings we have been given in our lives?

We are truly blessed indeed. We are blessed to be Americans, and to avoid many of the hardships plaguing the people of the Middle East and Israel on a daily basis. We are blessed to be followers of God.

Here are some strategies you might consider employing to make gratitude a part of your daily life even beyond Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

• Keep a journal of thanksgiving. Every day, write down one or two things that you are thankful for. These could be things that happened to you that day, or small blessings you’ve noticed in your daily life. Reflect on these things, and thank God that they are in your life. When you are struggling, it can be truly helpful to go back and revisit your thanksgiving journal to remind yourself of all the ways in which you are blessed.
• Help others. If you want to see what true gratitude looks like, engage in community service projects or humanitarian aid. It is a humbling experience to see so many people who need our help, and who are so deeply thankful to receive it. Seeing such gratitude firsthand will almost certainly rub off on you and translate to more gratitude in your own life.
• Take breaks. When life gets busy, take a step back and breathe. Go for a walk, have some quiet time, do whatever it takes to give yourself a moment to pause and reflect. This is imperative for your own sanity, as well as your ability to recognize your blessings.
• Say “thank you” more often. Say “thank you” to the person who gives you your morning coffee. Say “thank you” to people who check you out at the grocery store. Say “thank you” to a friend or loved one for being so important. Getting in the habit of saying “thank you” and meaning it is a great way to get yourself in the habit of feeling more gratitude.

We hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving and continue to see the blessings surrounding you in your own life!