Thriving Together Series: How to Be More Grateful by Being More Intentional

By: Terra Eidinger, MS, Marine Corps Civilian Analyst

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8, The Bible

There is much to be grateful for in any situation – even during challenging circumstances. However, we’ll miss a lot of what’s good in our lives if we’re not looking for it on purpose. Out of habit, sometimes we stumble into discouragement. When we intentionally look for what is good in our lives, we can activate our minds into gratitude, and then into meaningful responses to that gratitude. Here’s why intentionality is a key way to experience gratitude, and how to be more grateful by being more intentional.

We Can Choose Our Mindset

Gratitude is a mindset. Specifically, it’s a growth versus a fixed mindset. We can choose how to use our minds, and according to how we choose, our minds can either be our best friends or our worst enemies. The ability to master the skill of regulating our thoughts wisely is golden.

In this age of perpetual news feeds filled with bad news, it’s not surprising to fall into the abyss of hesitation. Life is hard. Holistically speaking, we as humans tend to lose the awareness of what we can achieve, especially if we do not collaborate and interact with God leading the way. According to T.D. Jakes in his book SOAR! Build Your Vision from the Ground Up, “We were created in the likeness of a creative God so that we can draw on that creativity for the innovation required to reimagine ourselves, reinvent our circumstances, and reinvest our gifts.”

Deeply ingrained deceptive thinking has been a nemesis to many of our successes in life. We can get stuck in a negative mindset if we ruminate over not belonging, failures, embarrassments, disappointments, and imposter phenomenon in our lives. According to Joseph Prince in his book Unmerited Favor, “… heat comes even to the blessed man, but he is not conscious of seasons of heat, but continues to be strong and flourish.” Life is full of adversities, but we should be grateful for all we have.

By choosing to intentionally look for what we can be grateful for, we can live happier and healthier lives than we could otherwise, research shows. For example, one study found that people who actively focused on being grateful experienced a significant increase in their happiness that lasted for six months after they chose to do so. Once we choose to be grateful on a regular basis, the power of those grateful thoughts strengthens our overall mental health, research reveals.

Deceptive thinking patterns can be challenging to unravel, and sometimes the pendulum swings back and forth in our lives. However, we can decide to be grateful by intentionally looking for positive realities rather than dwelling on deceptive, negative thinking.

How to Be More Intentional about Being Grateful

Right now, take inventory and seek gratitude in your present circumstances. Here are suggestions to break the bonds of deceptive thinking and discover the truth that you always have something to be grateful for:

Practice faith and spiritual mindfulness. Our humanness is that we’re flawed and shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. Exercise forgiveness and peace as often as needed for harmony. Enjoy the beauty of nature all around the world – body, mind, and spirit.
Master the art of acceptance. Avoid seeking validation and happiness from other people. Strive to mind our own business, personal acceptance, and commitment to self-care. We’re right where we are supposed to be in this moment of time. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a victim mentality; let that go. Accept gifts from others gracefully.
Expect to encounter challenging circumstances anytime. Stressful life events often happen unpredictably. No matter what, it’s crucial to do something to reset your mind into a trajectory of joy and optimism.
Use resources that help you pursue your interests. You can find a plethora of resources on reputable websites, at your local library, and elsewhere. Just make time to seek them out.
Enrich your mind with healthy activities. Read books, state positive affirmations, sing songs, visit, travel, attend classes, earn a degree, or learn a new language. Find something that gives you a “can-do” attitude.
Set goals regularly. Think about what you can learn from what you have accomplished in the past. Look to the examples of other people you know, such as seasoned college students who reached their pinnacle of success in their later years. Reflect on reminders of your personal accomplishments, such as your degrees, certificates, awards, and praise you’ve received from others through letters, emails, and spoken comments.

Ultimately, the formula is simple – whatever your situation, make the most of each moment here and now. Keep in mind that you always have something for which you can be grateful. You can find endless ways to practice the essence of intentional gratitude day by day.

Additional Resources

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