For the majority of us, to sit down and write out a list of all we have to be thankful of would take days, weeks, months, or even years. About the time you think you’ve exhausted the list, more come flooding in.
Unfortunately what seems to be on our mind the most are the challenges we face on a daily basis. With Thanksgiving upon us, it’s a time to reflect on our blessings and give thanks. Once a year is 364 days too few to do this.
I’ve found that a joyful attitude affects both our mental and physical health in dynamic ways. I recall as a child kneeling by my bed saying my prayers. That was a time to give thanks for all the blessings of the day. Unfortunately this practice is often abandoned as we get older.
We need to rekindle these forgotten practices. They’re part of what keeps us young at heart. The challenges of this world can harden us and carry a negative impact on our health. I truly believe rapid aging is largely a result of a hardened heart, looking at life in the negative.
We all experience challenges in life. How we overcome them is determined by our response.
When we look at what we have as nothing, we become disempowered. I’m reminded of the amazing power of thanksgiving when I read of when Jesus fed the five thousand men and their families on a two piece fish dinner. When he challenged his disciples on how to feed the multitude, Phillip said that two hundred penny worth of bread wouldn’t even give a little to each of them. Andrew said there was a lad with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what is that amongst so many?
Jesus took the fish and loaves and when he gave thanks he broke it and distributed it to the multitude and all ate and there were twelve baskets of left overs. It was the power of thanks that multiplied the food. When we’re faced with what looks like insufficiency, consider giving thanks for what you do have, and watch to see what happens next. You might be surprised.
When we focus on health challenges, researching, fretting, worrying, and consulting doctor google, it’s no surprise to see the problem increase. What we focus on has a way of escalating. The tighter we hold on to lack or sickness, the greater it becomes.
My parents grew up during the great depression. During that time, it wasn’t uncommon to try and hold on to everything tightly, not knowing where your next meal was coming from. I’ve identified areas in my life which are learned actions from them which I’ve had to overcome. Whether we realize it or not, we learn far more from parents and associates than we may realize.
When it comes to your health, if you have a major health concern, start looking at areas you don’t have problems and give thanks for these. I don’t compare myself with others, but with so many suffering from various illnesses, I have to constantly look at my life and be grateful for two legs that work, hands and arms to embrace my loved ones, a brain that works wonderfully, and so many other elements of just being able to live life. When you can do that, you’ll never have a down day the rest of your life. I’m not saying you won’t have opportunities, you just won’t take them, or remain there.
Some of the strongest people I know are those who don’t lose their joy over circumstances. I’ve been swindled, cheated, lied to, and stolen from. I can’t go back and change it. Getting mad about it only upsets my stomach and allows me to make more bad choices. My blood pressure sure doesn’t need it.
Speaking of blood pressure, Do you know why beta blockers are effective in many cases of high blood pressure? They block nerve response which normally cause your arteries to compress, raising blood pressure. What causes these nerves to fire, signaling increased tension in the arterial muscles? Stress, fear, and worry. Taking the drug doesn’t change the cause, just the outcome. Unfortunately there are other down sides to these drugs. One of them is reduced initiative. That in addition to libido problems and a host of other systemic damage.
You can’t be depressed about something you don’t spend time thinking about. How you manage your thought life is greatly impacted by taking time daily to meditate on what you’re thankful for. I daily give thanks for the privilege of interacting with people, getting to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.
This Thanksgiving, make it a goal to carry the spirit of thankfulness into every day and every aspect of your life. It can manifest itself as the best medicine you will ever take.
Unfortunately what seems to be on our mind the most are the challenges we face on a daily basis. With Thanksgiving upon us, it’s a time to reflect on our blessings and give thanks. Once a year is 364 days too few to do this.
I’ve found that a joyful attitude affects both our mental and physical health in dynamic ways. I recall as a child kneeling by my bed saying my prayers. That was a time to give thanks for all the blessings of the day. Unfortunately this practice is often abandoned as we get older.
We need to rekindle these forgotten practices. They’re part of what keeps us young at heart. The challenges of this world can harden us and carry a negative impact on our health. I truly believe rapid aging is largely a result of a hardened heart, looking at life in the negative.
We all experience challenges in life. How we overcome them is determined by our response.
When we look at what we have as nothing, we become disempowered. I’m reminded of the amazing power of thanksgiving when I read of when Jesus fed the five thousand men and their families on a two piece fish dinner. When he challenged his disciples on how to feed the multitude, Phillip said that two hundred penny worth of bread wouldn’t even give a little to each of them. Andrew said there was a lad with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what is that amongst so many?
Jesus took the fish and loaves and when he gave thanks he broke it and distributed it to the multitude and all ate and there were twelve baskets of left overs. It was the power of thanks that multiplied the food. When we’re faced with what looks like insufficiency, consider giving thanks for what you do have, and watch to see what happens next. You might be surprised.
When we focus on health challenges, researching, fretting, worrying, and consulting doctor google, it’s no surprise to see the problem increase. What we focus on has a way of escalating. The tighter we hold on to lack or sickness, the greater it becomes.
My parents grew up during the great depression. During that time, it wasn’t uncommon to try and hold on to everything tightly, not knowing where your next meal was coming from. I’ve identified areas in my life which are learned actions from them which I’ve had to overcome. Whether we realize it or not, we learn far more from parents and associates than we may realize.
When it comes to your health, if you have a major health concern, start looking at areas you don’t have problems and give thanks for these. I don’t compare myself with others, but with so many suffering from various illnesses, I have to constantly look at my life and be grateful for two legs that work, hands and arms to embrace my loved ones, a brain that works wonderfully, and so many other elements of just being able to live life. When you can do that, you’ll never have a down day the rest of your life. I’m not saying you won’t have opportunities, you just won’t take them, or remain there.
Some of the strongest people I know are those who don’t lose their joy over circumstances. I’ve been swindled, cheated, lied to, and stolen from. I can’t go back and change it. Getting mad about it only upsets my stomach and allows me to make more bad choices. My blood pressure sure doesn’t need it.
Speaking of blood pressure, Do you know why beta blockers are effective in many cases of high blood pressure? They block nerve response which normally cause your arteries to compress, raising blood pressure. What causes these nerves to fire, signaling increased tension in the arterial muscles? Stress, fear, and worry. Taking the drug doesn’t change the cause, just the outcome. Unfortunately there are other down sides to these drugs. One of them is reduced initiative. That in addition to libido problems and a host of other systemic damage.
You can’t be depressed about something you don’t spend time thinking about. How you manage your thought life is greatly impacted by taking time daily to meditate on what you’re thankful for. I daily give thanks for the privilege of interacting with people, getting to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.
This Thanksgiving, make it a goal to carry the spirit of thankfulness into every day and every aspect of your life. It can manifest itself as the best medicine you will ever take.
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