Today, let’s consider daily affirmations of gratitude since we are coming up on a holiday that begins with the word, “Thanks.” Years ago, changing the way I thought and spoke, using daily affirmations, were a large part in beginning to attack my negative, habitual thinking. In addition to affirmations, I also used thanksgiving as a means to combat those unwanted thoughts. Those who suffer from and with obsessive, scary, negative thinking patterns will tell you, “This is a battle.”
Daily Affirmations of Gratitude
So this battle I was in for my mind…I was so busy being scared, I could not be grateful; there wasn’t time. I was either considering a fear, chasing down a fear, or complaining about my fear. Instead of living in fear, I needed to live in gratitude–sounds almost like comparing apples to oranges doesn’t it? Instead of thinking in terms of, “The opposite of fear is …” Consider it this way…
The process of focusing on gratitude began as a stunted, forced assignment–write down 20 things everyday to be thankful for…no repeats. Stunted because well, 20? No repeats? Forced because my default was fear. I was not used to living in a place of thanksgiving added to the fact, I could only use hot chocolate, a pretty sunrise, or my children’s laughter only once. Well, technically, I’ve got 7 children (only 6 at the time)–and yes, yes I did count each one of their laughs as it’s own entry in the beginning…that was not cheating, it was more a process of learning to see. You know how when you come inside to a darker room than outside and it takes a minute for your eyes to adjust…well, it’s the same process when you begin to focus on gratitude; it takes a minute to adjust your sight.
I would love to report that I have journals and spirals with page after page filled with gratitude, but I don’t. I have some scattered here and there…I have a weird thing about journaling. I tend to keep a list for a while, get too busy–whatever that means–and the habit falls by the wayside. Time passes and I start needing a mental tune-up so I go back to the process of keeping track of things I am thankful for.
I’ve been posting a series all month long–30 Days of Thanksgiving. Let’s inject some fresh enthusiasm into that to finish out the month! Starting today–Monday–let’s all keep track of 20 things we are thankful for everyday until Friday. By the end of the week we will each have 100 items written down in our gratitude journal. Did you like how I roped you into this attitude of gratitude with me? Not only am I am a mother of 7, I am a firstborn and a Choleric temperament; I come by my bossiness and leadership naturally.
So who’s with me for the next five days? It’s only five days…we can do anything for five days! Use a spiral, a journal, a couple of sheets of notebook paper, a word document. you can even post your list in the comments of my daily 30 Days of Thanksgiving posts–anything you have to manually get twenty items on your list each day.
And now for some of those daily affirmations of gratitude; print this out and hang it on your bathroom mirror, office cubical or inside your kitchen cabinet where you reach up to get your coffee cup each morning. Wherever you place this printable–use it. Say these daily affirmations of gratitude every single day, preferably out loud. Say them each day and then write your list of 20 people, places or things you are thankful for. I guarantee, repeating these affirmations of gratitude will help you–teach you–to be more grateful. I bet by Friday, it will be easier to see things to be thankful for–if you tell yourself everyday you are a grateful person.
Each day there is more encouragement and even some laughs over on my Facebook page. Head over and “Like” me there for more.
I just love this, thanks for the reminder to be thankful, for all and in all things. I am thinking of making a thankful tree and getting the children to make thankful fruit to hang on it. Sometimes they need reminders too about all they are blessed with. Thanks for linking up at Good Morning Mondays
Hi Terri. The reminder is as much for me, especially in this season when all that glitters entices me to want more.
It seems easier to complain and find fault instead of discovering things to be thankful for. Yet the Scriptures urge us to have an attitude of gratitude and praise to our Lord. I was thinking of the Lord’s prayer and the phrase “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” In heaven there is NO sorrow, only joy – no tears, only laughter, no death, only life, no sickness, only vibrant living. Counting our blessings will bring a new mind-set and from there a renewing of the mind. We choose to give praise and thankfulness to Jesus. Thank you for sharing your awesome post with us here at “Tell me a Story.”
I enjoyed reading your comment Hazel. Thanks for the time to leave it.
I am so bad about writing stuff down in random places and not being able to find or keep up with them.
You’re doing an amazing job with your blog!
You would not believe how many pieces of paper I have written a quote on or grabbed a journal by the computer to write down a quote and then grabbing a different one in the bedroom for something I’ve read. I need to start one and finish one then move on to the next one.
Thanks for the challenge, Jenny! Gratitude is such a gift! I remember for our wedding, Sister prayed that our engagement would be a time of Celebration, Prayer, and Thanksgiving. This was one of the many gifts she shared with us prior to our wedding day. I clung to these three words and experienced a grace-filled engagement. Now to continue living these three daily! 🙂
LLAMA FACE!!!!! ha ha ha
I was so busy being scared, I could not be grateful; there wasn’t time.
Amen to that. I feel as if I’ve spent most of the past year in this frame of mind. Scared out of my mind (still) that my life journey may not end as far in the future as I’d like….but now able to be truly and joyfully grateful.
I’m in with 20 things a day for the next five days!
1. Sunshine
2. Warmer weather
3. The kid’s Heelys
4. Legos
5. Roasted chicken
6. Stock simmering on the stove
7. Grace
8. Mercy
9. Forgiveness
10. Dinner at my sister’s on Thursday
11. Stable blood sugar
12. Level headed 15 year old son
13. A dependable husband
14. A steady income
15. A home with heat and A/C
16. Low prices at the commissary
17. Cottage cheese and strawberries
18. Pumpkin granola
19. Fall birthdays behind me
20. Advent ahead of me
Wow! You have upped the ante on our 30 days of gratitude, haven’t you?! Especially since it has taken me most of November to get up to 100! But I will do my best. I think this practice of listing what we’re grateful for is so vital for so many reasons … It has blessed me this month, that is for sure!
You’ve got a noble advocacy. This simple act of posting daily affirmation makes a huge difference for other people’s lives. Keep blogging!
Wonderful post. 100 things! It is funny how if we were asked to write 100 things that annoy us, we could probably do it in a flash. Yet we have to constantly remind ourselves to be grateful. Such is our fallen nature, I guess.
Hey Jenny … I love this choice, moment by moment, to speak the gratitude that’s already filling up within.
Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours!
Hi Linda. The key word is “already” isn’t it? Thanks for visiting.