Category: Gratitude

Living with an Attitude of Gratitude is a Choice

Posted on by Evangeline

Gratitude by Ziglar

I’m choosing to be grateful for what I have, do, and experience. Years ago, I developed the habit of writing what I was grateful for at the end of each day. You can use this “tool” too! Every night before getting in the bed, I made a quick note about what I was grateful for that day. I made it easy on myself: I wrote 4 simple things that I possessed, did, or experienced that day. Of course, once I got going, I would think of more than 4 things but I limited it to 4 so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed the next day to come up with a lot of things to be grateful for. But then I stopped doing it…

Even though I still  verbally express my thankfulness, I’ve decided I need to get back on the wagon and refresh that habit of writing things down.

Gratitude is a Choice in the Midst of Negativity

With each expression of gratitude, you acknowledge the good, the favor, and the sweet harmony in your life. The more you give thanks, the more your awareness shifts from the negative to all the positive experiences you have. Using thankful language regularly redirects your focus to His love for you and away from any pain and lack. Expressing gratitude can give you hope!

Thankfulness is a way to kindle the flame of your faith. As the intensity of your faith grows, you find yourself more and more in line with God’s plan of abundance in your life. Keep fanning the flames of your faith by expressing your thankfulness!

Living with an attitude of gratitude is a choice. And if, as Zig Ziglar stated, gratitude brings more to be grateful for, then I’m all in! I choose to be grateful. I expect an abundance of  good things to come my way that will reinforce and grow this attitude so I can constantly be grateful, even in the midst of negativity.

What thing(s) do you do to remind yourself that, in spite of your circumstances, you have much to be grateful for?

Using thankful language regularly redirects your focus to His love for you and away from any pain and lack. Click To Tweet

What’s the Self-Image You’re Holding On To?

Posted on by Evangeline

A couple of years ago, I became a Certified Professional Coach. I love seeing lives transformed! In working with clients, I’ve gotten to see what an important role the self-image we hold of ourselves really plays. Here’s a “reloaded” post that you may find a bit challenging but I’m sure it will be helpful.

So, I ask you, what are you calling yourself in your everyday conversations…Infertile or Overcomer? Because that determines how you see yourself and it establishes a foundation for your future!

How you see yourself is important in the grand scheme of life. The images that we hold in our minds are typically what we will experience or become.

Do you see yourself as an infertile woman or as an overcomer of infertility? Even if you are currently experiencing infertility, you can choose to hold a positive picture in your mind’s eye of you being an overcomer!

Do you label yourself as an infertile woman when you’re having conversations with your friends or family? Maybe you’ve heard yourself say, “We don’t have kids yet because I’m infertile.” Even in the midst of this difficult season, you can choose to speak words that help you rise above what the Enemy has sent your way.

Yes, your thoughts and your words are really that influential!

One way to tip the self-image in your mind and the words from your mouth toward more positivity is through gratitude. When you choose to express thankfulness, you begin to think of even more things to be grateful for.

How you see yourself - Be thankful

 

Gratitude is also what brings you into God’s presence (Psalm 100:4).

Being thankful on purpose results in a shift from negativity and fear to positivity and faith.

You can be grateful that He WILL finish what He has started in your life (Philippians 1:6).

Being thankful on purpose results in focusing on the good. What you focus on expands!

As you cast all your anxieties onto Jesus, you will experience more inner peace
(1 Peter 1:7).

Being thankful helps you to more easily recognize the gift of GRACE that God has poured out to you.

When  your words carry and reflect more of the power of life instead of death, you’ll find that you think of your circumstances very differently.

How you see yourself–your self-image–is important. It influences your quality of life. Ask God to help you see yourself the way He sees you–> whole, victorious, and loved.

Even if you are currently experiencing infertility, you can choose to hold a positive picture in your mind's eye of you being an overcomer! Click To Tweet
gratitude in infertility

Being Thankful–Even in the Midst of Infertility

Posted on by Evangeline

“No matter how much we ask for something,
it becomes ours only as we accept it and give thanks for it.”
– Agnes Sanford, The Healing Light

 

Gratitude in infertility is difficult but it is possible. And know that even though you’re not grateful for infertility, you can be grateful in this season of infertility. There is always something to be grateful for! But it’s your choice to communicate and exhibit gratitude.

As a follow-up to my previous blog post, here are some additional effective ways to express and practice gratitude. I hope you find them helpful and that you’ll use them to uplift yourself, especially on “hard” days.

  • Start by remembering that God is with you. If you’ve asked Jesus into your heart, you can be assured He will never leave you. He always desires to bless you with His unfailing grace.

I will never leave you alone, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life! – Hebrews 13:5

  • Rest in knowing that infertility is not a punishment from Him. Be thankful that God is for you and not against you.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?
If God is for us, who can ever be against us? – Romans 8:31 NLT

 

Be Encouraged by Expressing Gratitude in Infertility

 

  • Be thankful that He has given so many examples of women who overcame infertility along with promises in the Bible that relate to your fertility.

You will be blessed above all peoples; there will be no infertile male or female among you. – Deuteronomy 7:14 HCSB

  • Thank Him that you can count on Him to make good on His fertility promises.  Even during the moments when you doubt His ability, willingness, and timing, stand firm in being thankful that He keeps His Word.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. – Isaiah 55:11 NLT

Standing firm in the heavens and fastened to eternity is the word of God. – Psalm 119:89 TPT

  • Believe that He loves you unconditionally, just as much as He loves Jesus, and be thankful for His constant expressions of love.

For they will see that you love each one of them
with the same passionate love that you have for me. John 17:23 TPT

You open yourself to more possibilities when you maintain an attitude of gratitude!

What will you be intentionally thankful for today?

Gratitude in infertility is difficult but it is possible. And know this... even though you’re not grateful FOR infertility, you can be grateful IN this season of infertility. Click To Tweet
gratitude

How Life Gets Better When You Are Accessing the Power of Gratitude

Posted on by Evangeline

There is power in gratitude– in saying “Thank you” and truly feeling grateful. Even scientific studies have shown gratitude is so powerful that it balances us and gives us hope.

Those studies show that gratitude, a positive, appreciative attitude, contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery. Whew! Who knew that so much goodness was contained in the simple practice of saying, “Thank you”?

Do  you use gratitude as a tool that moves you toward happiness and peace?

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 TPT and TLB

For gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives,  we have to learn a new way of looking at things. We need to make gratitude a habit. And that can take some time. That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks to God for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing. We become less focused on our problem and more focused on the Provider and His loving provision.

Some Ways to Practice the Power of Gratitude

  1. Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful; it will remind you to think in a grateful way.
  2. Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your bedtime routine.
  3. Make it a personal challenge to search for the overlooked blessing when you’re in a challenging situation.
  4. When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

So, what do you do to ensure that you are continually on the lookout for something good and being thankful for it?