Day 7: Optimist Challenge

7. Focus on gratitude.

It is simply a fact of life that most of us spend most of our time focusing on our everyday worries, concerns, problems, plans, etc., as opposed to being thankful for what we have. In fact, we may not even remember to be truly thankful, except at Thanksgiving!

Yet, no matter how difficult things seem to be, we can turn our attitude around all year long if we learn to focus on the good, instead of the bad. Odds are that if you starting compiling a "blessings list" versus a "hardships list", the good would far outweight the bad. You may even realize that you really do have a lot to be thankful for!

When we live in a habitual state of sorrow, anger, regret, jealousy or resentment, the bad things seem to be enormous, overshadowing all the good things in our lives and eventually causing us to lose sight of all the good.

On the other hand, when we focus on our blessings, our spirits are automatically enlightened, and our focus shifts from our problems to God's graciousness.

So in two words - be thankful! For everything. For the big things. For the little things. For the hard things. For the easy things. For the pain. For the blessings. For grace. For mercy. For Him.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live

Challenge: Spend the rest of the day thanking God for your blessings. Pray without ceasing, and dont say Amen, until you cannot think of another tiny thing to be thankful for!

But not sure where to start, or how to begin nourishing a real attitude of gratitude?

Here are a few strategies to help you get started.

1) Look up: thank God for who He is............. thank Him for who He is to you. For nature and all of His creations that we benefit from, for guidance, love, direction, grace..........

2) Look in: thank God for who you are........all the things that make you, you. For what He has done for you and your life. For what He has done in you, through you. For all the things you have accomplished, achieved, overcome.

3) Look around: thank God for all He has given you - food, clothes to wear, a roof over your head, family, friends, pets, jobs, community, country, service opportunities, shoes, breath, health, good medical care, insurance - the list is endless.