How to Foster an Attitude of Gratitude

How was my day? Well, I lost my job, my son got suspended for fighting, and my dog threw up on the carpet. It won’t take long to count my blessings – I don’t have any! Have you ever felt like this? Your gratitude list is empty? You have nothing for which to be thankful? Take a step back. You are focusing on all that’s missing in your life, instead of focusing on all that you have. It’s time for a Donut Dare!

What’s a Donut Dare?

A Donut Dare is a challenge to focus on all you have, instead of all you’re missing. To focus on what’s going right, rather than what’s going wrong. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how difficult it can actually be to stay in that mindset.  Check out my new book, 21 Days to Finding Joy: The Donut Dare – Focus on All You Have, Not All That’s Missing for help.

What Else Can Go Wrong

I don’t know a single person who hasn’t had a time where they felt everything was going wrong. They were constantly waiting for the next problem. However, in any given situation, if you stop to think, you’ll realize you have a lot to be thankful for. Don’t believe it? Just turn on the news for 5 minutes, and you’ll start counting your blessings. Let’s list a few you may have forgotten:

• Home
• Clean Water
• Hot Meals
• Indoor Plumbing
• Hot Shower
• Shoes

There are people all over the world who don’t have these things. They would give anything to have a job to lose, a child to get suspended, or a dog, even if it threw up. Yes, you had a pretty rotten day. But in the whole scheme of things, in this world, you’ve still got it pretty good.

Is It a Need or a Want?

Take a minute to think about what’s lacking in your life. Then, think through the difference between a want and a need. A need is something you can’t live without, such as food, water, and shelter. A want is something you can do without, but it would sure be nice to have. Make a list of the items you truly need to get through the day? Keep in mind, you may need food, but you want steak. You may need clothing, but you want name brands. You may need transportation, but you want your own personal vehicle.

Take A Minute to Look Around

Have you ever taken the time to think about how many things you have that others right in your neighborhood don’t? Have you ever seen a homeless person or a food pantry? We probably all have people within a 25-mile radius without many of the things we take for granted. Figure out how to make yourself more aware of those in your community who go without these things.

Create a Blessings Box

Now, that you’ve taken an honest look at your needs, and the needs of those around you, it’s time to start counting your blessings. Find an old shoe box, or plastic container with a lid. Decorate it, and make it something you enjoy having around. Next, get some plain or colorful paper, and colorful pencils or markers.

Take a sheet of paper and cut it into about 6 pieces. They can be strips, circles, triangles or squares; the shape doesn’t matter. Have fun with it. On each piece, write something you are blessed to have. I gave you six above, so start with those.

Hopefully, you thought of others. The point is to think of as many blessings as you can. Anything that is not a need (food, water, and shelter) is a blessing. Think outside the box. Include friends, something in nature you enjoy, health, and eyesight to name just a few.

Set the Blessings Box somewhere you can see it frequently. If you’re having a rough day, like the one described earlier, dump out that Blessings Box and read them. You’ll start to feel more joyful in no time.

As we approach Thanksgiving, download “14 Days of Gratitude” to help prepare your heart, then tell us what you are most grateful for in your life today.