Choosing Gratitude

A few weeks ago while doing some cleaning and decluttering, I stumbled on a book I hadn't read before. It was hidden away on my book shelf. It was a book about thankfulness, a subject perhaps overlooked in the everyday throws of life. We may verbally express it but do we genuine cultivate the essence of it in our hearts?

The Best Medicine for Well-being

Thankfulness is such a powerful value we must all imbibe not because its polite but because it is the best medicine for our "well-being"!

We are living in a time when the topic of well being is constantly being discussed - in the workplace, in schools, in government and even in our homes.

I have found in the times when I was in need the most whether in my health, my social circles, my work, my family, the best medicine was reflecting on the things I was grateful for. It did not mean I had everything but it reminded me of what I did have. Meditating on that allowed me to identify what I could do with what I had. Suddenly, there was a realisation I had so much...and way more than I had thought to be grateful for.

In addition to that many industries from the food, to the pharmaceutical to the self help/motivational industries are benefiting exorbitantly from this gap in our understanding of true wellness.

Things we must know about Thankfulness

1) Thankfulness is a sign of spiritual maturity - The quality of thankfulness cannot exist on the surface alone, it must go deep down into the spirit of a person to be of real benefit. This allows for growth and maturity because a person's outlook on life changes. You begin to see and notice things you hadn't before and appreciate them, use them well and gratitude continues to flow from there.

2) Thankfulness changes our focus from the problem to the blessing - We all know how important perspective is on the journey. Keeping our eyes on the problem only always serves to magnify it. So how about we focus on the blessings in our lives and magnify that instead!

3) Thankfulness is a type of PRAISE! Notice how the bible tells us to give thanks in all situations. Sometimes we might think our life has nothing deserving of praise (a lie) but if that's were you are at right now then there is someone in our life you could praise, they could be something they have done that deserves our praise. We can praise others or ourselves through thanksgiving. It helps shred excessive criticism. When critic becomes excessive people begin to lose faith. When praise is overrides criticism, it increases faith in ability.

4) Thankfulness keeps us content - OMG. This is one nugget I unwrapped in my season that blow me away. You think you know until you absolutely know. When we allow ourselves marinate in an atmosphere of thankfulness, we truly begin to believe and own the truth that we lack nothing! And this is not arrogance but a surrender to the things that are beyond your control, your expertise, your line of vision, your future. When we learn to see what we have before us and remain in awe of it, contentment becomes the by product.

5) Thankfulness breeds acknowledgment of grace - This is the understanding that truly we do not always get what we deserve. Granted this could swing either way but I want to focus on the times it swings in the direction for your good. I want to focus on the times when it swings in the direction that benefits your time or your health or your friendships. Consider the favours you didn't ask for yet somehow became available to you. Consider the times when you could not have negotiated intricate aspects of a contract yet you find yourself enjoying said benefits in a far greater way than you could have articulated for yourself. In those moment we have to acknowledge unmerited grace but we only notice it when we stay thankful.

How Thankfulness shapes out journey and choices

We make better choices by staying thankful and it shapes our character. Every choice we make is a quiet vote for the person we’re becoming. Some choices are loud and life‑altering; others are small and almost invisible. But beneath all of them sits something deeper than willpower or logic — character. And one of the most powerful ways to build character is through the simple, often overlooked practice of thankfulness.

Thankfulness isn’t just a polite response or a momentary feeling. It’s a posture. A lens. A way of seeing the world that slowly reshapes who we are and how we choose.

When we practice gratitude, we train our minds to pay attention to what is good, true, and life‑giving. Instead of being driven by scarcity or fear, we begin to see abundance — not because everything is perfect, but because we’re learning to recognize the gifts woven into ordinary days.

• Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s present

• It softens our reactions and widens our perspective

• It helps us pause long enough to choose intentionally rather than impulsively

A thankful heart doesn’t ignore reality; it interprets it differently.

Gratitude builds inner strength. Character isn’t built in comfort. It’s shaped in the quiet, unseen moments when we decide who we want to be. Thankfulness becomes a kind of inner training:

• It strengthens resilience because it reminds us of what we’ve already survived

• It nurtures humility because it acknowledges that we’re not self‑made

• It deepens compassion because it opens our eyes to the goodness in others

When gratitude becomes a habit, our choices start flowing from a grounded, steady place rather than from insecurity or comparison.

Thankfulness clarifies what matters. Many of our hardest choices come from competing priorities. Gratitude helps us sort through the noise.

When we’re thankful, we become more aware of:

• The relationships that truly nourish us

• The values we want to protect

• The opportunities that align with our purpose

Thankfulness acts like a compass. It doesn’t make every decision easy, but it keeps us oriented toward what is meaningful rather than what is merely urgent.

Gratitude makes us more courageous. It might sound surprising, but thankfulness fuels courage. When we recognize the good in our lives — the support we’ve received, the strengths we carry, the grace that has met us — we become more willing to take risks that align with our character.

A grateful person doesn’t choose out of fear of losing. They choose out of confidence in what they’ve already gained.

Choose From a Thankful Heart

When thankfulness becomes part of our character, our choices begin to reflect:

• Integrity — because we’re anchored in what we value

• Generosity — because we see how much we’ve been given

• Wisdom — because gratitude slows us down long enough to discern

• Hope — because we’ve trained our eyes to see possibility

And ultimately, well-being!

In this way, gratitude isn’t just a feeling. It’s a builder. A shaper. A quiet architect of the wholesome life we’re creating.

In summary, thankfulness is one of the most transformative tools we have to become people of strong character and great well-being — not because it changes our circumstances, but because it changes us.

When we choose with a thankful heart, we choose from a place of clarity, strength, and purpose. And over time, those choices shape a life that reflects wellness and who we truly want to be.

Be blessed!