Would you like to discover more joy? Increase your happiness? Studies show that one proven way is living daily with a thankful heart. However, maintaining a state of gratefulness takes practice and repetition. And then, when life doesn’t go as expected, we sometimes believe joy is beyond our reach.
Gratitude is a great place to start, but first, let’s ensure we understand the words.
Define Joy, Happiness, Thankfulness, and Gratitude
Joy is often used interchangeably with happiness in our everyday language. Yet the joy of the Lord is different and worth noting.
The Joy of the Lord
The Joy of the Lord is the delight of knowing God, being in a relationship with Jesus, and letting the holy spirit lead our lives. This internal feeling is directly aligned and dependent on our relationship with God, not our circumstances.
When we express gratitude to our Maker, the one who provides it all, the joy of the Lord is bound to rise within us. This joy is incredible and ushers in a peace that makes no sense.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (I Peter 1:8 NLT)The truth is our hearts can be full of joy even though our world appears to crumble around us, and the delight of the Lord never has to leave us. #joy Click To Tweet
Happiness
Happiness is a positive feeling dependent on what is happening around us or to us. When things are going well, we are happy, but our contentment can go away the minute they turn for the worse.
The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.
Ashley Montagu
Thankfulness
Thankfulness is when we stop to notice, appreciate, and acknowledge what is good in our lives. We can do this aloud, or it can be an internal process.
Gratitude
Gratitude is the expression of our thankfulness, which is one of the positive emotions that helps us feel better. However, we must practice to attain and keep a thankful heart.
When You Lose Your Joy and Happiness
Are your circumstances difficult right now in this season? You think there is no possible way of finding any enjoyment. Or that there is only room for one emotion at a time.
One particular Christmas that stands out was when I was about four or five, and I had my heart set on this beautiful baby doll carriage for my doll that had impeccable clothes to match mine. I had dreamed and probably even gathered the courage to sit on the scary man’s lap with the big white beard to ask him to please grant me my wish.
But when the big day came, my response to the gift was far from grateful. Tears rose in my eyes and spilled down my face when I saw the present. My family was shocked and perturbed at this little girl who appeared ungrateful. I didn’t have words to express the inner turmoil.
Yes, it was a gift I wanted, but my momma was missing from the celebration due to a recent divorce, and I wanted her more than any beautiful buggy. To be happy or grateful seemed wrong amid such sadness. Oh, if only I had known what I know today.
Two emotions can exist simultaneously; one does not have to cancel the other out. #emotions Click To TweetTwo Emotions Can Exist
Perhaps your next holiday will not be what you once dreamed or expected—mine never are. Like me, you might have empty chairs around your table from those who are gone or unable to attend. And your heart might hurt! However, we can choose to embrace sadness with blessings, and when we do, we will discover more joy.
After all, in numerous research studies, gratitude is what leads to happiness. This thought may be contrary to what one might think. But when we take the time to notice what we have, not what we lack, it creates positive feelings and ushers joy and happiness. However, we need a little more than solely the idea of gratitude; we must make a choice and practice living daily with a thankful heart.
Let’s stop waiting for the unexpected mess to pass and try gratitude. #gratitude. Click To TweetHow to Practice Living Daily With a Thankful Heart
There are numerous ways to practice daily gratitude, and finding what works for you is vital. However, a few key factors must be present to receive the benefits of gratitude. It will be necessary to—
Choose to Seek Gratitude Daily
It all starts with a choice, and we must consciously embrace an attitude of gratitude, constantly on the lookout for what is good.
Notice Our Blessings
Stop and notice what is good at any given point in your day. These can be blessings from the past, present, or future.
Acknowledge
Take the time to state what brings you thoughts of gratitude. These words can be to God, yourself, or another person.
Appreciate
Do not rush ahead; take a moment to savor the wonderful feeling of thankfulness.
It is easy to nod our heads and say, okay, I got this, but without a daily designated time of commitment, it is easy to let gratitude slip by and miss the joy it can bring. Many people incorporate thankfulness in the following ways.
- Gratitude Journal
- Prayer
- Daily devotions
- Blessings jar
- Thankful wall
- Make it a goal
- Memorizing scripture
What does practicing gratitude look like in your life? One idea is through our daily prayers—“How to Change Things Up When You Pray.”
A gratitude practice takes practice. And even once we have a daily habit of counting our blessings, we can always find more treasure.
That is why I love November at Embracing the Unexpected | Maree Dee. With you in mind, I have created a downloadable Gratitude workbook. Of course, you can complete the journal independently, but I hope you will join us on social media and share your thankful heart each day during November. You will automatically receive the workbook if you are on our email list.
Embracing 30 Days of Gratitude
Discover how unlocking the power of thankfulness can help draw you closer to God and bring more joy into your life! Our 30-day gratitude workbook includes daily gratitude prompts, scriptures/quotes, and a place to record your thoughts. Available free during November 2023.
Discover More Joy
Practicing thankfulness will usher joy and happiness into our lives. But don’t take my word for it. Make a practice of it and see what happens.
It’s never too late to pivot and discover more joy by living daily with a thankful heart. #thankfulheart #grateful #gratitude Click To TweetHow has living daily with a thankful heart helped you discover more joy?
I love this. When I had to go back to an office job (after working a flexible sales job from home for 17 years) I dropped my morning routine that included gratitude and joy moments. After 8 months, my energy was completely drained. So, intentionally a couple of weeks ago, I dropped getting to my emails and blogs before work, and started journalling and setting my day again. My energy has soared, and I feel more clear-headed. God designed us for joy and gratitude! I may not get back to blogs, and miss deadlines for my own writing goals, both due to journalling now in the mornings, however I feel much more at peace.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I love that your energy soared. You know, I think mine is too. I would never have connected the two. I love that you have your priorities on target; you are so right God designed us for joy and gratitude. I am finding counting my blessings also brings me peace. Blessings, Maree
Maree, I so appreciate how you tie gratitude and joy together. And your honesty and examples spoke to my heart. Two emotions that seem opposite can coexist. We need to be “real” before the Lord as we grapple with those. I’ve begun (again) writing things I’m thankful for daily. It’s been helpful for me to actively look for God’s presence in my days.
I am so glad you are writing down a daily gratitude list. When I stop counting my blessings, I tend to complain and pull away a little from God. It feels good to concentrate on gratitude this month. Blessings to you my friend, Maree
This is great! I’ve been trying to get more gratitude into our days as a family. We have a gratitude journal page pinned up on the wall in the kitchen. I think I might adopt some of your other suggestions too. 🙂
Rebecca, Thank you for your words of encouragement. I hope you do take some of the suggestions. I would love to hear how your gratitude page works for you and your family. Maree
You really give a touching example of how we have certain expectations and may be experiencing joy, but if there is turmoil going on, we don’t always express it appropriately, or recognize it. I found this a very interesting read today, and may we all find ways to truly and appropriately express our thankfulness!
Amen, Yes, may we find a way to express our gratitude. I am so glad you stopped by and left your thoughts. Blessing, Maree
Hi Maree! I practice gratitude in many forms. The first one is that each morning, as I write in my prayer journal, I list 3-4 things for which I am thankful. I know I am thankful for these things, but actually writing them down seems to “re-wire” my brain and gives me a better attitude as I face my day. Happiness is a blessing… but joy in the Lord is even better! I’m so thankful for the relationship I have with Him and how it is growing each day. I just signed up and downloaded your workbook “Embracing 30 Days of Gratitude”. You mentioned in your post that you hope people will interact on social media about it over the next month. Is that on Facebook or Instagram… or both? I’m following, so I’ll keep my eye out!
Blessings for a beautiful and joyful Saturday! Jo
Jo,
Thank you for sharing your gratitude practice and your sweet note. I know you are so right about the re-wiring of the brain. I start my morning that way too. I want to start doing that at night, too, but I have to say I am out as soon as my head hits the pillow.
I am so glad you signed up for the gratitude challenge. You mentioned that you downloaded the workbook. You might have downloaded another free workbook I was offering or last year’s gratitude book. The new one will be released on November 1st. Each day in November, an identical post will be on my business’s Facebook and Instagram pages. When you receive the workbook, you will see detailed instructions. I can’t wait to start hearing your gratitude list.
Blessings to you, Maree
Thankyou for sharing this with us today Maree.
Emotions are such illogical things, but I’m glad we have them & can learn to express them positively as we grow. ☺️
Gratitude is definitely an attitude, hubby & I pray together each night before sleep & we begin with what we are grateful for… This keeps our attitudes centred on God’s grace for us.
Bless you,
Jennifer
Jennifer, Thank you for sharing your prayer time at night with your hubby. You have given me an idea. I, too am glad we have emotions. Blessings, Maree
Ann Voskamp’s book on gratitude way back in the day was a game-changer for me, Maree. by nature I’m a whiner, a glass-half-empty person. life is richer and fuller and less stressful when we focus on all the blessings that pour down on us day in and out. God is so very gracious and generous.
Yes, I loved Ann’s book. You are right “life is fuller and less stressful when we focus on all the blessings.” Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I am so glad you use gratitude to fill your glass. Blessings, Maree
Happiness and joy are two definitely two different things.
I love that the Joy of the Lord never has to leave us. Thank you for stopping by. Maree
Maree,
Yes, sign me up for the Gratitude workbook. So I often I default to “waiting for the mess to pass,” but it never does. I pick up and put down my gratitude journal during different seasons of my life. Right now, a lot is a mess and your post really re-directed my heart. Thanks for the reminder that emotions can coexist — they don’t cancel each other out. Great and much needed post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, I’m sorry so much is a mess. I am praying for you right now. I am so glad my post re-directed your heart. I, too, fall into the trap of waiting for the mess to pass, and you are so right. It never really does. I, too, need a little extra gratitude practice this November. I’m happy you will be joining us. Blessings, Maree
You are right. It starts with a choice. When I savor moments and practice gratitude, my heart feels full and light.
I am right there with you, Debbie. What a beautiful difference gratitude makes in our lives.
Sometimes I get distracted from practicing gratefulness. I appreciate the reminders of practical ways to intentionally remember God’s goodness.
Amy, you are so welcome. I have been distracted and looking forward to our 30 days of gratitude challenge. I can always use an increase in thankfulness. Maree