What do you think gratitude looks like? Gratitude is often a difficult concept to understand and practice. As children, we’re told to clean our plates at dinner because there are starving children in Africa; the hope is that we’ll be grateful for what we have as we consider what others lack.

Our parents and grandparents also reminded us when they had to walk 100 superheroic miles to school; their goal was to evoke gratitude in our hearts for the ease of travel we enjoyed following their toil and hardships. But often those desires to help others become grateful don’t always transfer by osmosis.

No one wants to be called ungrateful. But it’s difficult to live within the tension of living a life of gratitude and taking things for granted. The lure of entitlement hovers as the latest marketing ploys entice our hearts to want more possessions while we fight against FOMO – fear of missing out – and the envy of what others have.

Having a healthy view of gratitude can bring balance into our lives. Gratitude is defined as a feeling of thankfulness and being happy with what you have in life. Remarkable One, let me remind you that grateful women are also kind women and we are abundantly blessed, as John 10:10 reminds us.

Regardless of the circumstances in your life, you are incredibly blessed. Take a moment and consider this: What are you thankful for?

God’s Word reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” – Philippians 4:6-7. Thanksgiving helps our hearts grow with grace and truth on our side.

Every November American families sit around the Thanksgiving dinner table and share what they’re thankful for. This practice shouldn’t be reserved for just one time a year. Giving regular thanks, as 2 Thessalonians 1:3 encourages us to do, can help everyone in your family appreciate each other and the blessings you have.

Consider the ways that cultivating gratitude can make your life better:

1. You’ll become more enthusiastic.
2. You’ll feel more determined to achieve your goals.
3. Your level of optimism will soar. Being optimistic will fuel your passion to construct the life you deserve.
4. Your energy levels will increase. Being aware of what you’re thankful for galvanizes your efforts to discover all that your life can be.
5. Gratitude makes you more attentive. Being thankful ensures you’ll be more alert and aware of how your life is going, what you’re doing, and how you can continue to build the life you seek.
6. Your levels of stress begin to drop. As you live a life of gratitude, things that used to stress you out will lose their power.
7. You’ll feel more content with life. Those who consciously have gratitude experience reduced levels of depression.

Open your eyes to the good gifts that grace your world. Acknowledge your gratitude. When you do, you’ll live a more fulfilling life. Get started today by creating your own gratitude journal. Write about everything that you’re grateful for. As you begin to give thanks, you’ll find your dreams coming true and you’ll be glad and grateful!