The people of the Old Testament knew the secret of health and happiness: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). And so did the Christians in the New Testament: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
I don’t need more convincing than this to stick to my spiritual routine of writing in my gratitude journal. Doing so strengthens my relationship with Jesus and provides me with so many topics to pray about. Being focused on all the many people and things I am grateful for brings me joy and gives me courage in challenging circumstances.
However, it is interesting and encouraging to read up on how other sciences view the practice and mindset of giving thanks. Did you know that increasing your thankfulness …
- lowers your blood pressure?
- lowers your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and thus improves your immune system?
- slows down the aging and degeneration of your nervous system?
- raises your levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone, and thus improves connection between people?
- helps you lose weight as you feel less inclined to eat sugary, fatty foods?
- makes you more self-confident as you feel less frustration, envy and regret because you are focused on the good in the here and now?
- improves your general mood?
- lowers depression when used alongside therapy and prescribed anti-depressants?
- encourages more restful sleep, thus improving your general physical and mental health?
- makes you more resilient to adapt to change and deal with negative circumstances?
- increases your optimism and hope and thus helps to prevent burnout and anxiety disorders?
- increases your motivation and energy levels, which make it more likely that you will implement a healthy and active lifestyle?
- makes you less self-centered and more inclined to help and support others?
- is contagious and makes other people feel better about life and makes them also like you more?
Gratitude isn’t an instant cure-all that will magically dissolve all sickness, strife and suffering. It takes time to take effect, but is does change your brain permanently. It impacts our priorities so that we make better choices and maintain a healthy mind in a healthy body, even during really hard times.
The Dutch heroine of World War II, Corrie ten Boom, her sister and her father were captured by the Nazis for helping Jews. The two women were sent to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. Life there was brutal and so horrendous that Corrie became despondent and depressed.
Betsie, her sister, had encouraged her to continue thanking God, despite all their hunger, fear, sickness and pain. Corrie was reluctant and mentioned that she would never ever say thank you for the swarms of lice and fleas that constantly bit them.
One day Betsie jubilantly asked her: “Do you know why our secret Bible has never been discovered and why the guards never catch us doing Bible study? They refuse to enter the women’s quarters because they don’t want to get bitten by our notorious lice and fleas. I told you! We should thank God even for lice and even for fleas!”
Corrie and Betsie continued their ministry to bring God’s light in one of the darkest places in history. They had a place of peace to do so, thanks to lice and fleas.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
