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Someone has said that gratitude is for mental health what vegetables are for physical health. Now, hopefully you enjoy eating vegetables because you know that they are absolutely necessary if you want to have good health. Sometimes you may eat vegetables just because you know they are good for you, even if that particular veggie is not your favorite—right?
Well, the same is true for your mental health, if you want to create a gratitude muscle. You learn to be thankful for everything and at all times because it’s good for you. You may not feel thankful, but you can still intentionally think about and talk about all you have to be thankful for.
It’s interesting that thankfulness and its variations show up in the New Testament 71 times and it is always a directive of Scripture. For example:
- “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thessalonians 5:18).
- “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
It’s not a suggestion; it is a spiritual exercise. Something you do intentionally.
In the Old Testament there are about 102 times that thankfulness and its variations occur, and you are no doubt aware that the Psalms are full of thanksgiving. Just one example:
Psalm 9:1-2: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
So, here is one suggestion you can practice today in order to develop your gratitude muscle. Avoid complaining about anything today—nothing! Instead, verbalize thankfulness today out loud. Look around you—what do you see that you are thankful for? A beautiful day? Your child? A friend? Good food? Just look around you and verbalize your thankfulness for what you see. Maybe even count the number of times you say, “Thank you for. . .” whatever you see. That should keep you busy all day, and you will be strengthening your gratitude muscle.