Skip Prichard is an Inc. Top 100 Leadership Speaker and author of the WSJ bestselling book, The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future. His views have been featured in print and broadcast media including the BBC, The New York Times, CNN, NPR, The Daily Beast, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and many more. He shares the following amazing facts (https://www.skipprichard.com/5-ways-to-cultivate-an-attitude-of-gratitude/ ).
If there was a drug with no negative side effects that helped you eat healthier, exercise more, experience less depression, and sleep better, how long would it last in the pharmacy? We would flock to doctors for prescriptions. The pharmaceutical company would have a hit.
It may not be a drug, but gratitude may be as important to your health as nutrition. Let’s look at some of the benefits. People described as thankful tend to:
• Eat healthier
• Develop stronger immune systems
• Experience more energy
• Demonstrate optimism and mental acuity (sharpness or keenness)
• Cope with stress better
• Describe life with high satisfaction
• Exercise regularly
• Solve difficult mental challenges easier
• Have deeper friendships
• Sleep better
• Have increased self-worth and self-esteem
• Show increased productivity
• Enjoy work and perform better on the job
Successful people practice gratitude. After all, I don’t see how you can be called successful if you aren’t happy and thankful for all life has to offer.
In a world filled with turmoil and confusion (eg, COVID19, financial upheaval, political confusion, racial violence, etc), it is tempting to take on a negative mindset. It is easy to be filled with bitterness about what has happened or did not happen. It would be easy to wind up with a critical spirit. But that is a destructive way to live. You will end up with the opposite of the benefits listed above.
Plus, there is a spiritual component to it. A Heart of Thankfulness is God’s will for your life. The Apostle Paul instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Did you catch that? God’s will for your life is for you to have a thankful heart. Give thanks in All circumstances!
Are we instructed to give thanks For all circumstances? No! But we can give thanks In all circumstances! Why? Because we know that God is in Control. He is Good. He is Guiding and Directing our lives. He is Faithful to redeem every situation and Transform what is meant for evil into good (Genesis 50:20). Give Him thanks!
This Sunday, August 1, we will continue our “Choices” series with the teaching “Choose an Attitude of Gratitude!” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). If you are not able to join us in-person in the building at 10:35am for worship, please join us online for the Live broadcast on Facebook (Search: Honolulu AG). The recording will also be uploaded later that day to our website (honoluluag.org) and YouTube channel (Search: Honolulu Assembly of God).
Coming Up: Compassion Sunday on August 15. Pastor Ron Peer will share a message from Matthew 25:31-46.
Aloha and Aloha ke Akua!