4 Ways Gratitude Can Change Your Mindset

The Importance of Examining Our Mindset

We may not even realize what our minds are established on. It’s easy for us not to recognize what our thoughts and actions are based on. Because we can be misled in our thinking, it’s so important for us to examine ourselves daily to see what course our life is leading us on. 

In 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul expresses his concern about believers being led astray. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

So how do we know where our minds are set? 2 Corinthians 13:5 urges, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

Like Psalm 139:23 urges us to ask, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

When we do, as Jeremiah 17:10 reveals, God responds. “I the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Where Do We Begin to Change Our Mindsets? 

So, if we discover we’re unhappy with our current mindset, what is the course to take to change it? In Psalm 119:11, David explains, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

When we focus, study, and put into practice God’s word, it transforms our minds. Romans 12:2 instructs, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

When we set our minds on the things above, 1 Corinthians 2:16 describes, “For ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

Philippians 2:2 speaks of what this like-mindedness brings into our lives. “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

The following are four ways gratitude can change our mindsets.

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1. Gratitude Changes Our Brains

Sound Mind Center founder, psychotherapist Gretchen J. Penner, LCSW, explains how our feelings start with thoughts, and although God did not create us to think negative thoughts, through sin we have become hardwired to think negative thoughts.

Penner describes how our world reinforces those negative thoughts, so by just turning on the news in the morning, it reinforces fear, as we hear about terrorist attacks, viral outbreaks, and all the many things that cause cancer. These fearful and negative cognitions strengthen our sympathetic nervous system, which is what holds feelings of fear, depression, and hopelessness. 

“But here’s the good news,” explains Penner. “The placidity of the brain means that we can rewire and create new neuron connectors in the brain, retraining our brains to think positive thoughts instead of negative cognitions.”

Penner clarifies how we do this by exercising the brain, thinking of the brain like a muscle in the body. As we exercise and lift weights, it strengthens those muscles. What we focus on will strengthen that part of the brain.

She encourages exercising and strengthening our brains by starting a daily thankful list. “Doing a daily thankful list is like lifting a weight to strengthen our brains,” explains Penner. “It can be hard, especially at first, but like any exercise, the more you do it the easier it becomes.” 

Penner goes on to describe how, “What happens is, as you focus on what you are thankful for, you are recreating new neuron connectors in the brain, which will trigger our parasympathetic nervous system, which is our rest and digest, allowing our bodies to relax and feel peace. A thankful list gives you hope. Hope gives you the desire to live.”

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2. Gratitude Changes Wartime Mindsets

Maia Mikhaluk, co-founder with her husband, Nick, of International Partnerships in the Ukraine, explains how, amid wartime shortages, “The attitude of gratefulness affects the quality of one’s life more than the availability of luxuries and comforts. I can speak for myself – I feel more gratitude since the war started than I did in the days when life was going the way I wanted.”

Through her daily Facebook posts, Mikhaluk encourages readers to start appreciating what God has given to them now and not wait until there is a loss to start appreciating it, writing, “Start counting your blessings and you will be amazed at how wonderful your life is!”

Since Russia began its onslaught against Ukraine in 2022, Mikhaluk and her family have been living out Philippians 4:11-13, learning what is truly valuable to them and what they can live without.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned how to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

Mikhaluk notes she is learning daily how it’s possible to live without a lot of things she used to think were vital to her contentment, writing, “I can’t claim we have reached what Paul is talking about in Philippians but we are closer to it than we were before the war.”

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3. Gratitude Changes Family Mindsets during Difficulties

1 Thessalonians 5:18 urges us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

Being thankful in everything, though, can be challenging, especially, when it’s affecting an entire family moving forward in life. Yet, what mindset we take in facing circumstances and difficulties has potentially lifelong effects on how we move forward.

As Romans 8:28 describes, we can set our minds to believe what God’s Word says, “And we know that in all things God works all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” 

Years ago, our family had an opportunity to put this into practice, when my husband’s Senior Pastor’s position at church ended rather abruptly, with no warning. Of course, at first, our entire family felt devastated, since as the pastor’s family, we were deeply involved on a daily basis with the people at church, both personally and with church activities.

With me as a stay-at-home mom at the time and my husband’s church salary being our only income, we experienced tremendous disappointment with what took place, along with facing financial uncertainty, with the loss of our total income.

Looking back, we are deeply grateful for the insight and wisdom God gave us, as parents of four daughters, in dealing with this situation. He helped us to realize how we faced this crisis, held the devastating potential to affect our daughters’ lives negatively in how they view God, the Church, fellow believers, and more. 

Desiring to want to please God and respond in a way that set a godly example for our children in a way they could understand, we baked a “Thankfulness Cake.”

Colossians 3:17 urges, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 

Even though, at the time, our hearts were really struggling with a variety of human emotions in trying to feel thankful, God helped us recognize the kind of mindset we needed to have in leading our family forward through this crisis. Surprisingly, the cake brought an unexpected comfort to us, cheering our discouraged hearts in a way we didn’t see coming. Through this simple act of obedience in thanking God in all things, we experienced the hope and joy we have in God’s plans for our future and our lives.

Ephesians 5:20 is true. Gratitude is the key to facing life’s difficulties, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

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4. Gratitude Changes Remembering Minds

By choosing to remember things of the past in a grateful way rather than focusing on disappointments or discouragements, our minds learn to be geared toward thankfulness rather than sorrow and regret.

Psalm 77:11 describes how “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Instead of focusing on challenging situations and circumstances, which is what the enemy of our souls wants us to do, we can focus on God’s faithfulness. On how He never left us or turned away from us (Hebrews 13:5). We can dwell on remembering how God was there for us and helped us through difficult times.

A good way to help us remember with thankfulness is by looking through our Bibles, seeing the highlighted and underlined verses and passages of God’s Word that encouraged, strengthened, and taught us through our toughest times, reminding us of His mercy, compassion, love, and goodness toward us. 

As well, remembering with gratefulness, how God has answered prayers and met our needs over the years. Doing so helps us to look at present difficulties with renewed hope and expectations.

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