WATCH
Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, and to celebrate, we’re focusing on Gratitude this month. To kick things off, we revisit an old Facebook Live Athlete Mindset with our friend Guido Trinidad.
REFLECT
What is Gratitude?
Guido shared several definitions that he found from the internet including, “With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. As a result, gratitude helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals, whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”
This definition captured the concept that Gratitude is a choice. Sure it’s an emotion, a feeling, an idea, a mindset, a virtue, a state of being; all those things, but at the end of the day, it is a choice that we have.
True gratitude exists when it’s undeserved. The lives that we live and all the blessings we experienced are not things we deserve. We are all flawed and sinful, but that’s where Grace comes in. Grace is the beginning of gratitude. When we can acknowledge how undeserving we are, our eyes are opened to just how amazing the things around us are.
When we look at Gratitude and its place in the journey from Grace to Glory, we realize just how powerful it is.
So to move through the steps that Guido outlines…
- Grace- God extends his Grace to us and gives us what we don’t deserve.
- Gifts- Be Grateful for the Gifts that he’s given us.
- Grind- Acknowledge He’s the Giver and we’re going to Grind and work hard on those gifts.
- Grow- Grow into the purpose which God has set before you.
- Greatness- Greatness is the result of that Growth, it is impact, character, and love.
- Glory- This journey is what Glorifies God, not us.
DISCUSSION
When it comes to the impact of Gratitude, Guido shared, “We can only be in one state of mind at a time. You cannot have fear, or timidity, or lack of confidence if you have gratitude. Gratitude overwhelms them all.”
He also listed out three things that result choosing Gratitude:
- Gratitude helps you fear less.
- Gratitude shifts your mindset and puts things in perspective.
- Gratitude helps you focus.
When you look at your life and your thought patterns, do you choose Gratitude? If so, what is the impact you have seen? If you don’t, why do you think that is? What holds you back?
SKILL WORK
Take one week and commit to developing a Gratitude Practice.
- Some people journal before bed and they list three things from that day that they’re grateful for. These are things that can’t be repeated because they are specific to that day.
- Another tactic would be to set a goal number of things you want to observe to be grateful for and list them throughout the day.
The purpose is to take time and celebrate the positive things that happen. Nothing is too small.
