Your gratitude lists mean nothing.

Sep 23

Your gratitude lists mean nothing…

…unless they occur during the good and the bad times of life.

As counselors, we’ll be the first to encourage people to cultivate a mindset of gratitude. It’s wild how much of an effect it can have.

Unfortunately, the effects are sometimes short lived. Not because being thankful isn’t important, but because we don’t sustain it in our lives.

St. Paul writes: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

The key part of that verse is when St. Paul says “all circumstances”.
Gratitude is the most impactful when it exists during the best and the hardest times of our lives.

It allows us to see beyond ourselves, and towards the God who loves us.
Don’t get me wrong, be gracious when life is good is also important.

However, we need to make gratitude a foundational part of our lives, even when we are in the midst of struggle.

The principle message from St. Paul is that God invites us to know him further by appreciating his love while we are in the midst of hardship. We need to understand how he sustains us despite our trials.

You can write down what you’re grateful for and reflect on it daily. Or if you prefer, you can vocalize it during your prayer.

Either way, create a spirit of gratitude and cultivate it despite what your life looks like. You will be amazed at how much closer to God you feel and how much more balanced your mental health becomes.

GratitudeBible

Jacob Frazier

Jacob Frazier, LMHC, MA, NCC, is a mental health counselor with Archangel Catholic.

Jacob holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Gonzaga University. As a mental health counselor, Jacob has a passion for facilitating personal and interpersonal development, vocational/career discernment, and helping people apply their strengths and Catholic faith to the challenges of daily living.

Jacob has extensive clinical history of assessing and working with clients experiencing emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, struggling with relationships and commitment, facing addictions, and struggling with trauma.

Jacob is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which he used on a treatment team that served individuals with moderate to severe diagnoses. Jacob is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) centered on posttraumatic stress related to abuse, neglect, and other traumatic life experiences. He also has an interest in helping men foster a healthy understanding of masculinity and assist in cultivating virtue.