A number of years ago, I read Robert Emmons’ book Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier. In the book, Emmons writes about his findings in an academic study on the science of gratitude. Using scientific research methods, he discovered that focusing on good things and their source will have benefits in a person’s psychological, physical and social well-being. To achieve this focus, Emmons suggested keeping a “gratitude journal” in which you record each day three things for which you are thankful. I can, through personal experience, attest to the merit of his conclusions.
I had never been one to keep a journal; when I sat down to write I was not able to think of anything to write about. However, this idea of a gratitude journal made it practical for me. I have in the years since reading Emmons’ book kept a gratitude journal a number of times. Usually, I would stay with it for a few weeks before other things distracted me from it. As I practiced writing the journal, I found that after a few weeks I had to intentionally look for new things for which to be grateful in order to not be repetitious. This actually turned out to be fun, and I discovered that Emmons was right when he said we have far more good things to be thankful for than we have bad things to hassle us. In fact, the number of good things we have is unlimited. We know that all good things come from God. Gratitude is at the heart of worship.
I was grateful to learn recently that my 12-year-old niece who attends a Christian school was given an assignment to keep a gratitude journal. Unfortunately, we did not have time to compare notes, but I hope we can do that the next time we meet. In my latest attempt I got up to 350 things – the most I have ever achieved. Unfortunately, my computer crashed and I lost my list. I was not thankful for that! However, I got a new computer and can start again, and I am thankful for that.
I am currently reading a book by Timothy Keller in which he said, “Don’t just believe in the goodness of God – savor it in worship and prayer,” and I realized that I could use the list to do just that. I could enjoy all of these good things a second and a third time. I am doubly motivated to get started again.