John Thurman's Resilient Solutions Shortcast

How To Build A Gratitude Mindset For A Joyful Thanksgiving

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If the headlines feel loud and your heart feels thin, consider this your invitation to build a gratitude mindset that actually sticks. We take a clear, practical walk through the habits that make thankfulness more than a seasonal feeling—so it becomes a steady way of seeing your life, your relationships, and God’s provision.

We start by bridging science and Scripture: how positive psychology’s findings on gratitude align with ancient wisdom that calls us to give thanks. From there, we get tactical. You’ll learn a simple journaling flow you can do in five minutes, why pen and paper beat tapping on a screen, and how that small ritual lowers stress and lifts your mood. We talk about making grace at meals honest and specific, not rote—and why a short prayer can reshape the tone of a table, whether you’re at home or grabbing a quick bite.

Then we move into savoring: 30-second pauses that train your brain to notice what’s good, an easy “awe walk” to reset attention, and a nighttime “three good things” practice that improves sleep and nurtures hope. We also tackle the screen-time trap with a realistic plan—start with one phone-free meal and build from there—so presence with the people you love becomes possible again. Along the way, you’ll hear timeless lines from G.K. Chesterton and reflections from decades of counseling work that connect gratitude with resilience, health, and a longer, lighter life.

Ready to try it this week? Pick one habit—journal a line, say a heartfelt grace, take a 10-minute awe walk—and tell us how it goes. If this helped you breathe a little easier, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find these tools for a calmer, more grateful life.

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Brazilian Solutions Shortcast, Episode 81. How to Develop a Gratitude Mindset This Thanksgiving. Wow, can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? Now I'm an old dude. I'm 73 years old, and one of my Thanksgiving traditions, if I can do it, is to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. I don't know what yours are, but as we prepare for Thanksgiving, I want to give you some really cool strategic things you can do to have a great Thanksgiving. So I want to talk about how to develop a gratitude mindset for this Thanksgiving. For example, are you aware that one of the cheapest ways and easiest ways to improve your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being is to be thankful and practice gratitude. Well, that's what we're going to talk about. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm John Thurman. You're listening to John Thurman's Resilient Solutions Shortcast, and you can learn more about me at my website, johnturman.net. Let's jump right in today. Well, I hope you're ready for Thanksgiving. I am. We're going to be celebrating with our family over in the great state of Texas in the Texas Hill Country. G.K. Chesterton was a famous English writer, philosopher, conservative guy that was a prolific writer and just had a way with words. And he was thinking about Thanksgiving. Now remember, he's British, so he doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving like we do. But he shared a quote I wanted to share with you that's so powerful. He said, I would maintain that our thanks are the highest forms of thought, and that gratitude is happiness double by wonder. I absolutely love that. Let me read it again. I would maintain that thanks are the highest forms of thought, and that gratitude is happiness double by wonder. I have to agree with that. Sometimes the simplest truths are the most profound, and let's face it, way cheaper than therapy. How do I know? I'm a therapist. And I love that little thing about gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. So many times we have this gratitude that's kind of half-hearted. Well, I'm grateful for this. Why not add a little exuberance for that? Why not add a little bit of excitement with it? Well, as a mental health professional who loves Jesus, and also I love coffee, I get excited when the science finally catches up with the scriptures they've been teaching for thousands of years. And that and positive psychology, which happens to be a school of psychology that I'm more or less adapted as I grew as a therapist, because they believe that so much of what we deal with emotionally and in our thought life and our emotional life and our mental health has to do with the way we're thinking. And I believe they're most congruent with scripture, but I'm not here to defend that today. The research shows from positive psychology that people who keep gratitude journals are intentionally focused on blessings and have this whole gratitude mindset have a whole lot better life than everybody else. They're happier, they're more resilient, they have fewer issues with autoimmune diseases, they tend to have better health, a better outlook on life, and are just a lot more pleasant to be around. It also indicates that people that have that gratitude mindset live longer because you're not burdened down by all the negativity in the world. And Lord knows it is so easy to get negative, isn't it? Too much news, too many bad things can really weigh you down. And one of the things that I've been trying to do in my life lately is really limit my news intake because most of it is not good. Matter of fact, let me ask you, when was the last time you did a screen time test with your device? That's right, a screen time. Yeah, there's a way you can actually tell how much time you're spending on the net. I challenge you to try it and see if uh if you might be more than what you think you are. And if you are, cut back a little bit and spend some time developing gratitude and other things. Well, let me talk about a few of the benefits of gratitude. Gratitude is not just this feeling, it's a source of joy and resilience. The research shows us that people who do focus on being grateful and thankful are just plain happier. They handle life's stresses better, they can roll with the punches, if you will, and by practicing gratitude, we shift our focus from negative feelings like envy, jealousy, resentment, all that yucky stuff that clogs up our mind, weighs down our heart, and really keeps us from developing as humans that have an attitude of joy in Thanksgiving. After all, one of the things that sets Christians apart is we do should have an attitude of gratitude. Now, by practicing gratitude, the other thing that happens is you focus on the good things in life, and that fosters hope, resilience, and joy. Well, here's why having a gratitude mindset matters for Christians. Number one, God asks us to be thankful. The most crucial reason to be grateful is that God wants us to thank him. Psalm 104 and 5 says, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, into his course with praise, and give him thank and praise his name, for the Lord is good, his unfailing love continues forever, and his faithless love continues each generation. That's pretty good stuff, isn't it? Secondly, a gratitude mindset keeps our eyes on God. When we focus on gratitude, we're always asking ourselves, what am I thankful for? And to whom do I owe thanks to? The more we do this, the more we see God's greatness, goodness, and kindness in our lives, in the lives of our family members, and friends. Number three, gratitude isn't something nice Christians do. It's a spiritual discipline that builds faith muscles stronger than any gym membership ever could. Thankfulness helps us trust God not only during the mountaintop moments, but also when it feels like we're trudging through the quick stand in everyday life. I don't know about you, but you know, sometimes I do feel like I'm trudging. Matter of fact, in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, one of the key passages there is that says that we trudge through our recovery. And you know, walking with Jesus is exciting, and some days you have those mountaintop experiences, and other days you feel like you're just slogging it out. But that's okay because having that gratitude mindset gives you the strength, the hope, and the discipline to get through it. So, how can you grow a gratitude mindset? Number one, let me just get practical here. First thing you want to do is jot down your joys. Even if your handwriting looks like ancient hieroglyphics are Greek after years of typing, and I'm guilty of that, guys. I really am. Putting pen to paper can calm your mind and lift your spirit. So, number one, find a peaceful spot. Maybe your favorite armchair, a place in the backyard on your porch or your sunroom. But go there because that's that place you can go and kind of get settled. Secondly, think about one good thing happening right now in your life or in your family or in your work. Number three, list three things bringing you joy today. Even if they're small. Next, write down three things you're looking forward to. Even it's as simple as a cup of coffee, or maybe being at church or your small group, being plugged into friends, or maybe the joy of looking forward to sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. Friend, cultivating gratitude doesn't require perfection, but it does require intention. A simple willingness each day to pause and say thank you to God first, and then hourly towards others. And remember, no matter what season it is or that you find yourself in, this Thanksgiving, you can always have access to the greatest gift imaginable. Jesus Christ Himself walking beside you. So let me encourage you, instead of grabbing a slice of pie or that extra cookie, grab a journal and start to write. I'll put a link in the show notes to an article I wrote a couple years ago on what writing things down on pen and paper does for you. You'd be shocked to realize how much more effective it is to help you manage your joy and happiness and your mental health than just tapping on a screen. Number two, take mealtimes more thankful. Now, while you and I may have grown up with God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food, By His blessings where you're fed, it was sort of at a bread. Amen. That's a great prayer to memorize. And one prayer I grew up, because my mom was Southern Baptist, my dad was Roman Catholic, was bless, O Lord, these thy gifts which you're about to receive through the bounty through Christ, amen. Both are great prayers, particularly if they're more than just memorized and you share it from your heart. This is not only about Thanksgiving, this is about any time. But let me talk a little bit about something simple yet profoundly meaningful. And that's saying grace before meals. If you watch Blue Bloods or programs like that, it blesses my heart to see that they end every program with a blessing. And maybe you grew up with that, maybe you didn't. I want to spend a couple minutes giving you some ideas on how you can expand that. Now I know what you may be thinking, but isn't that just something that grandma or me ma or mimi or grandpa suggested on Sunday lunch? Well, yeah, because she she was on to something. The Bible makes it clear that saying grace is more than just a polite pause before we eat. It's an act of gratitude, respect, worship, and love for our Creator. Think about it. Jesus himself gave thanks to the Father before feeding the multitude. That's in Matthew 14, 19. He didn't skip over this step even when surrounded by hungry crowds and chaos. And the Apostle Paul, he made sure that to give thanks before every meal, according to Acts 27 35. These spiritual giants took time for grace. Maybe that says something about a powerful practice we shouldn't overlook. You see, when we bow our heads, even for a few seconds, we're not only honoring God, we're reminding ourselves that every good gift comes from Him. In today's fast-paced, internet-driven, internet addicted world, taking a moment to hit the pause button in life's craziness and tuning our hearts back to gratitude, back to the Lord, it doesn't have to be fancy or long-winded. A heartfelt thank you, Lord, can do wonders for you. So whether you're sitting down with your family for an evening meal or morning meal or grabbing a quick bite at McDonald's, yeah, people will stare at you. You don't have to close your eyes, by the way. Remember, you're part of an over 2,000-year-old tradition. You're joining hands with believers across generations, across all sorts of cultures who recognize God as the ultimate provider. Hey, if Jesus did it, I think we can muster up enough courage to do the same, even if dinner gets a little cold for just a minute. Now, if you grew up in a family that didn't do this, or maybe you only remember those childhood prayers, I've got a link in the show notes and in my blog that'll give you some guidance on how to pray. Once again, going back to one of my authors and philosophers I really enjoy, GK Chesterson, he said this You say grace before meals, all right, that's good. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and even when I dip my pen in the inkwell, I say thanks. It's become a habit in my life and it should be in yours. I love that. Here's a man who is well known, well respected, did a lot of good things in England, and yet he always took time to be thankful in the little thing. Number three, pause and savor. Let me ask you a minute. What's the difference between a golden corral steak and a steak at a fine restaurant? Well, number one, price. Number two, you tend to eat the golden corral steak a lot faster than you would for a sixty dollar steak or seventy dollar steak at a restaurant. So you want to pause and savor. When you spend big money on a big meal, don't hoof it down. You savor it. Here's how you can do that. Pick a small moment each day, maybe that first sip of coffee, the first glimpse of sunlight, and just enjoy it for 20 or 30 seconds. Second. Savoring helps fight negative thoughts and can reduce anxiety. So pause and be thankful. Some people keep a savor jar, yes, they really do. They drop notes in it about happy moments, blessed moments, and moments that they want to recall. And then maybe on Sunday they'll pull those out and review them. That's an easy, great way to keep that attitude of gratitude, to have that gratitude mindset. Next, take a short outdoor awe walk. Just ah for 10 or 15 minutes. Notice the beautiful things like the sky, the trees in New Mexico, some of these beautiful sunsets we have. Then share one awe-inspiring moment over dinner. And then finally, before bed, think of three good things that happened that day and why they happened. This can improve your sleep quality, help you think positively, and also give you a moment to pause and thank God for his good gifts. Number four, and we can all use some work here, limit that screen time. One of the ways to be more present and connected is to limit our screen time. Try having a phone-free meal as a start, maybe breakfast or dinner. And then I have to do this intensely by myself. Don't try this as all or nothing. Choose one meal and start there. If you're with your family, your eating meal may be a good place to start. By limiting our screen time, we can be more present and connected with our loved ones in an intimate surroundings of a dinner. Next, having a gratitude mindset is free and powerful. Without it, we can become self-centered, grumpy, jealous, crouchy, irritable, just the whole bad things. Believing that we're responsible for everything in our lives. But when we practice gratitude, we become more aware of God's goodness and presence and learn to rely on Him more each day. Now, growing up a mixed faith family, that basically means my mama was Southern Baptist and my daddy was Roman Catholic. I heard this prayer all of my life, from the time as I can remember to even before they passed, whenever we'd sit at their table. And that was my dad's prayer. It's a very Catholic prayer. All you Roman Catholic guys will know it. And he'd start with made in the sign of the cross and he'd say, Bless, O Lord, these thy gift, which we're about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord Jesus. Amen. Simple but powerful prayer. You don't have to use that prayer or the God is great, God is good prayer. Go a little deeper this Thanksgiving. I really want to encourage you to embrace the benefits of a gratitude mindset, particularly as a movement of these holidays. And I'm going to pray for you right now. Lord, I want to thank you for everyone listening. I pray that as they prepare for the Thanksgiving, whether they'll be by themselves or with family members, that they'll have a more awareness of your goodness and mercy in your presence. You would give them a sense of hope and joy. And as they move through this holiday season, their time with family and friends will be one of blessings, great memories, and gratitude. We ask all this in Jesus' strong and mighty name. Amen. Hey, my name's John Thurman. You've been listening to my podcast, John Thurman's Resilient Solutions Shortcast, where I help you become more resilient in your personal life, your relationships, and in your faith. To learn more about me, check out my website, John at JohnTurman.net. And if you need to reach out to me personally, just send me an email, John at covertmercy.com. Thanks so much for listening. And remember, this is the day that the Lord has made, and I will make a choice to rejoice and be glad in it. God bless. Happy Thanksgiving. I'll be back on after Thanksgiving on a more regular basis. Take care.

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