Here’s the short story: In the fall of 2022, I was on the verge of burnout. I was tired, short-fused, and had a stunning lack of compassion, even though I worked in a compassion ministry. Friends, family, and co-workers were noticing I wasn’t myself. I could chalk it up to over-working or the stresses of caregiving (my mother, who has since passed, had dementia at the time), but I didn’t think the answer was simply to check out. With the encouragement of my supervisor and family, I took a micro-sabbatical – a week of silence & solitude with the hopes of discerning a way forward.
Though I felt directionless, I sensed that a gratitude practice might be a good way to spend my time away. I read 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus,” and sensed an affirmation of the Spirit to take this path of prayer. Though it was challenging at first to know how to begin, when I did start thanking God in prayer, I was surprised at how quickly my perspective shifted and my load lightened. This led me to a deeper study, scouring both the Bible and books by secular & Christian authors. I prayed into it and I practiced it. I was surprised that in that short time of commitment to grateful living, I drew closer to the Lord, I felt my heart was reset, and I carried my burdens less heavily.
Nothing changed in my circumstances, but I had a major pivot of the heart. I returned to life and work with joy and wanted to continue to explore and invite others to do the same with me.
This is how I started The Gratefulness Experiment. In January 2023, I invited the first “cohort” of courageous friends to practice it with me, immerse in daily challenges and prayers, listen to each other’s experiences, and discover what changes when we give thanks.
Here are a few testimonials from those who have participated in The Gratefulness Experiment:
The biggest takeaway was to practice ‘noticing without judging’ when it comes to people’s situations that I find frustrating. To practice gratefulness towards a person who is frustrating me is highly impactful.
-S
[Helped me see] Godโs view of me. It was impactful to practice gratefulness for who I am (each part of my body).
-LThe most surprising take-away is that it helped to develop more trust towards God. The attitude of gratefulness has helped me to open my heart more towards God because during the stressful or frustrating incidents this month where I actively had to express gratefulness – it enabled me to calm down and actually hear what God was saying during those incidents and oftentimes He would reveal either a solution or a truth that I would have completely missed out on had I not been in that state of gratefulness.
-R
Now, two years later, I am about to lead the fifth Gratefulness Experiment and I’d love to extend an invitation to you!
I can’t sell you on outcomes (i.e. this will get you your dream job, improve your health, give you a longer lifeโฆ). The Gratefulness Experiment is about discovery and the hypothesis is that a discipline of giving thanks will bring about change. By taking part in the Experiment, you’ll see for yourself.
But still, I’d like to give a big hint that there’s something to this gratitude habit!
Something more than just a “good thing to do.” Something more than positive thinking – as true gratitude doesn’t ignore the tough stuff but gives you tools for it. Something that strengthens and expands your heart. Something that builds a truer perspective of the world around you. What would happen if you explored this for yourself and see what comes of it?
So here’s the deal (your assignment should you choose to accept itโฆ): Commit 30 days to grateful living – this means making space in your calendar and mind/focus – ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ญ๐ฑ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐ก๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ญ๐ฏ๐๐ต.
This includes:
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Receiving daily gratefulness challenges;
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Meeting Wednesday evenings together (7 p.m. EST, by Zoom);
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Committing daily to simply prayer times of thanks;
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Contributing to the group conversation (via Whatsapp).
If interested, sign up here: https://forms.gle/4Qu6rwDxDMDBx6GG7.
Join us and discover what changes when we give thanks!
In Everything 