The Podcast

How to Express Gratitude in Meaningful Ways Journal G

I Created The ABC’s Of Life

Because Sometimes, We Don’t Realize Our Minds, Body, And Spirits Are Searching And Seeking To Lead Us Towards Inner And Outer Peace. Why? Because Sometimes, It Is Hard To Push That Pause Button Because We Are Busy.

Each week I will take a letter of the alphabet, and we will see how that word can fit into our life of peace. Sometimes I will work with our outer peace and sometimes the inner peace. Last week we discussed F-Faith, and we worked with our inner peace.

Unfortunately, some choose things that will give them temporary peace but, in the end, reap devastating results like drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and unhealthy relationships.

The purpose of this journal

It is to inspire, motivate, and encourage you, hopefully.

Many roads can lead to peace. Sometimes we need to take it day by day, peace by peace. I want to share stories and see how other people are making their peace journey, and who knows, we may be able to incorporate some of the ideas into our lives.

Each Week, You Will Get A Release Of My Podcast (Audio) And Journal (Written).

As Promised, Here We Go! This Week We Are On The Letter G for Gratitude

G – Gratitude

I keep wanting to type grateful because these two words are the same.

Gratitude is being thankful to show appreciation and kindness.

Grateful is feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness. So, these two words are the same; I will use both words interchangeably.

When I think of gratitude,

I immediately think of my family, loved ones, church family, and good health.

But as the title says, I wanted to express my gratitude more meaningfully. Sometimes you can take for granted what God has blessed you with, and now and then, it’s great to let the people or person in your life know how much they positively mean to you.

I decided to be honest and inventory how I express my gratitude towards my family. I was reviewing the list I am getting ready to share with you, and shame on me; I need to do better. So, this journal will be a little different, so let’s dive in

11 Creative Ways to Express gratitude (chopra.com)

Gift A Book

I enjoy reading. I know plenty of people who love to read, many friends and family. This expression of gratitude says that if a book has shifted my perspective or changed my life, I could share it with someone. Well, there you go. Now I have to think of some books that have shifted my perspective. I could start with the Bible, of course. One of my favorite scriptures is.

Stop worrying and pray – Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious (worried, concerned) about anything but everything you are anxious (worried, concerned) about; pray, ask, and give Him thanks. Amen

Make a Favorite Meal

This ideal suggests looking up a recipe, going to the store, and preparing someone’s favorite meal. This would show the person or people how much you appreciate them. I have done that in the past. And that has always been met with appreciation. Considering I’m not particularly eager to cook.   My only issue is that I do not want them to put their expectation too high because making a favorite meal will not be done often. I am just keeping it real. 😉

Gift a Performance

This idea suggests whether you give a ticket or go together, the experience will be memorable. I was gifted a Swan Lake performance, and we had a blast. Years back, I was gifted a concert with my sister-in-law; we went to see Fantasia; her performance was fantastic, and I enjoyed every minute. Sometimes when I see her performing on television, it takes me back to when I went to her concert with my sister-in-law. Both of these experiences provided me with pleasant memories.  

Write a Rhyme or Poem

Getting an old-fashioned handwritten letter is excellent in this day and age of text messages and emails.

They suggest spending time writing out thank you notes or cards. I remember writing a letter a few years back, they didn’t expect it, and the person was very appreciative. And they, in turn, wrote me a letter. I felt special because I knew this person was busy. But yet, they took the time to write a detailed letter. I will always cherish it.

Mail a Care Package

This suggests sending a personalized care package like homemade cookies or customized gifts.

I had done this before the young man was doing missionary work; he was homesick. And he appreciated the care package.

Share Specifics

This tip says that if someone has done something kind for you let them know in detail how their service or action affected you. This is something I need to do more often. Many things are done that a simple acknowledgment could go a long way. For example, I appreciated when you asked me how my day was and was attentive to my response. Or thank you for not hitting your brother when I knew you wanted to. I am proud of you for controlling yourself.  

And God wants us to thank Him. Imagine an earthly parent who does for their children and never once the children acknowledge or appreciate the gestures. How unappreciative is that? On the other hand, showing appreciation makes you want to do more for that person.

God says we are to love humankind. It is suitable for us to show gratitude to others.

Take Care of the Small Stuff

https://seekingpeacepurpose.com/2023/06/21/the-art-of-choosing-how-to-make-better-decisions-c-d

Do something you know the person does not like doing. This could be for a coworker, spouse, or friend; you could prepare their lunch or make coffee or tea. or fix their favorite snacks.

Gift an Experience

They suggest a cooking class or yoga class – this is giving the gift of expression of thanks. This is the type of gift that keeps on giving.

Give A Gift Card to A Local Restaurant

Look up a new local hot spot or their favorite place to eat and gift them a gift card. Or you could gift them a cuisine that you know they have been wanting to try out.

Create a Homemade Spa

Now this is more of an intimate expression of gratitude, like drawing a bath, a homemade pedicure, a scalp massage, or an essential oil package. Have a date “special date” for lunch, dinner, or breakfast, whatever works for the both of you. 

Gift a Membership

You could gift them a massage facial or spa treatment. How about a subscription to Netflix, HBO, or their favorite magazine? And watch their face light up.

These are just some ways to express your gratitude to others.

Remember to consider the person you are showing gratitude to – if they do not like cooking, and you gift them some cooking classes…I don’t know; you may be taking a chance on them not liking it. Make sure it is something you know they would enjoy. If you are unsure, ask someone close to them or watch what they do and say sometimes you may be able to pick up some clues.

Second Part – Showing Yourself Gratitude

20 WAYS TO USE GRATITUDE AS SELF-CARE – Gratitude Gifted

We often neglect ourselves because of our busy lives and how we always care for others. So here are some suggestions to take care of yourself. Remember, you cannot do your best if you do not show yourself some appreciation.

Returning to nature and disconnecting from others momentarily helps us appreciate the beauty while getting fresh air that is good for our minds and bodies.

Exercising, moving, and stretching our bodies helps us show ourselves, love. There are many benefits, such as feeling less stressed, less anxious, and good about ourselves.

Spend time with people that put a smile on your face. It is always nice to reconnect with others. Frenemies are not included in this gathering.

Showing gratitude by reading and catching up on a good book or watching movies is an excellent time to go to the movies or binge-watch your favorite show.

Meditation

This can be as simple as sitting in silence for a few moments. Remember, we learned some excellent breathing techniques in How to Appreciate Your Self? You could use them here.

Say No –

I needed this one when I was younger. I always said yes when I knew it wasn’t the best decision. A people pleaser – That is all that was, in the end, it causes you to resent the person, and you cheat yourself. So, show yourself some love when you say no. Saying no will not make you a bad person. It forces you to put yourself first and to be honest with yourself. The other person will either respect you for it or move on to the next person.

Splurge on you.

This does not mean you need to spend much money. You could treat yourself to a fancy coffee, an ice cream cone, a foot massage, or a manicure—something just for you.

Listening to music is another form of self-gratitude. Music can be therapeutic in many ways. Different types of music can affect your mood. Be mindful of the words you are listening to; some can bring peace, while others may trigger something negative in you.

Cleaning is another way.

I love to declutter, and I do it often; otherwise, I become stressed if too many things lie around. I used to enjoy washing clothes because that allowed me to throw, give away, or donate clothes our children had outgrown. That was my form of decluttering; it was therapy for me.

Give yourself three compliments. What are three things you love about yourself? Don’t be shy. Remember, we all have our uniqueness. Something that makes us unique and sets us apart from everyone else.

Get enough sleep –

this one is where if I do not get enough sleep, it is unsuitable for me or anyone around me. It is vital to get an adequate amount of sleep. If I do not get enough rest the following day, I am cranky, achy, and not at my best.

Matt Walker says that sleep is our superpower and that when we do not get enough sleep, this affects the reproductive system in both men and women. And that we need adequate sleep before we learn and adequate sleep after we learn so that our brains can absorb the new information. I will put a pen here and say we will talk about sleep more in the future. We will speak about getting enough rest and sleep.

And lastly, Expressing our gratitude to God!

I am grateful to see how God has decorated the earth.

Where do I start? Right now, I am looking out the window and seeing the majestic trees with robins, blue jays, and sparrows flying in and out of them. I see a rabbit with her baby. (Baby bunnies are called kittens) who knew? They are right in front of my window. Their home is nestled in our front yard underneath one of our vast evergreen trees. The sky is overcast but beautiful to me because I see the different types of clouds Nimbus a rain cloud being one of them. (Remember that science class I had to take) It is paying off.

Go to the Book of Psalms and Colossians to brag about God.  

Psalms 7:17 N.L.T. – I will thank the Lord because He is Just; I will sing praise to the name of The Highest.

Psalms 34:1 N.L.T. – I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.

Colossians 3:15 – The Message – Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.

Colossians 3:17 – The Message – And sing-sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of Jesus. Thanking God our Father every step of the way.  

And here are a few more scriptures on showing our gratitude to God.

• I Thessalonians 5:18 – Be thankful in all circumstances.
• Ephesians 2:8 – Be thankful that His grace (kindness) saves us.
• James 1:17 – Whatever is good and perfect comes from God.
• John 3:16 – I am grateful that God loved us to give His only Son (Jesus)

In conclusion, there are at least three things to be grateful for.

1. Others
2. God our Father
3. Ourselves

And it is good to show gratitude to ourselves because God wants us to care for ourselves. After all, He loves and cares for us – remember, He knows the count of every strand of hair on our head – which changes constantly.

In Conclusion – G- stands for Grateful or Gratitude

How do you show your gratitude? Please share in the comment section below.

Don’t forget to add which gratitude gesture spoke to you in your S.U.P. Journal

by the end of the year, you will have some great ideas for maintaining your peace and be able to share and encourage others.

Next week we will talk about a word that begins with the letter H that can help us on our journey of peace.

As always, thank you for being here with me on this day – today. See you next week!

GRACE AND PEACE