"Reflect on your present blessings, on which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have."-- Charles Dickens
In my message Sunday I referenced an academic journal article by psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough titled "Counting Blessings Versus Burdens." One of the ways they measured the effectiveness of gratitude in increasing the well-being of their test subjects was by instructing them to keep a daily journal of at least five things for which they were thankful. Every night, they were told to write down at least five things. These could be big things, like, "I'm thankful I have parents who support me" (these were college students), "I'm thankful to God for giving me determination," to smaller, seemingly more insignificant things, "I'm grateful for waking up this morning." Over the period of the study, these students repeated things for which they were thankful, but the important thing was simply taking the time to reflect on gratitude. This simple exercise was significant in increasing subjects' sense of well-being and satisfaction with life.
I often think about what I'm thinking about. We all mull over certain things in our minds, carrying on a constant inner dialogue with the self. What are you thinking about? What occupies your mind when you're not engaged in some activity that demands your full attention? The Bible has some wonderful advice:
"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8 NRSV).
Try keeping a Gratitude Journal for 21 days. Try reshaping your inner dialogue to include conversations with God about how grateful you are for the many blessings he has given you, most notably new life in Christ. I promise, it will make a marked difference in your attitude and your impact on those around you.
In my message Sunday I referenced an academic journal article by psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough titled "Counting Blessings Versus Burdens." One of the ways they measured the effectiveness of gratitude in increasing the well-being of their test subjects was by instructing them to keep a daily journal of at least five things for which they were thankful. Every night, they were told to write down at least five things. These could be big things, like, "I'm thankful I have parents who support me" (these were college students), "I'm thankful to God for giving me determination," to smaller, seemingly more insignificant things, "I'm grateful for waking up this morning." Over the period of the study, these students repeated things for which they were thankful, but the important thing was simply taking the time to reflect on gratitude. This simple exercise was significant in increasing subjects' sense of well-being and satisfaction with life.
I often think about what I'm thinking about. We all mull over certain things in our minds, carrying on a constant inner dialogue with the self. What are you thinking about? What occupies your mind when you're not engaged in some activity that demands your full attention? The Bible has some wonderful advice:
"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8 NRSV).
Try keeping a Gratitude Journal for 21 days. Try reshaping your inner dialogue to include conversations with God about how grateful you are for the many blessings he has given you, most notably new life in Christ. I promise, it will make a marked difference in your attitude and your impact on those around you.
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