In order to live a happy and healthy life, we need to discover the vital truth of two words. Attitude and Gratitude-
There is nothing as powerful as attitude. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Attitude will make or break a person. Never underestimate the importance of cultivating a positive attitude. Also never underestimate the importance of also maintaining a positive attitude. A positive attitude keeps your energy levels high, your soul alive, and allows you to burn brightly instead of burning out. Therefore, if you want things to be different in your life. . .the number one thing you need to change is not your job, circumstances, environment, relationships, or income. . .it’s YOU. You must first change your attitude.
In his book Attitude 101, John Maxwell says this concerning attitude: I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. Leadership has less to do with position than it does with disposition. The disposition of a leader is important because it will influence the way the followers think and feel. Great leaders understand that the right attitude will set the right atmosphere, which enables the right responses from others.
Attitude is always a choice. Gratitude starts with awareness and attentiveness. You may not be able to control circumstances, but you can control how you react to those circumstances. Knowing that God is in control should make a difference in one’s attitude. Do you know the shortest verse in the (Bible) Greek text? “Rejoice always” is the shortest verse.
In the closing chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Apostle Paul is giving three briefs “standing orders” or three perpetual practices to ensure spiritual vitality and devotion.
“Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 implies that our trust in God is directly linked to our attitude. To Paul, prayer was even the realization of God’s presence.
One of the most difficult disciplines in life is the discipline of thankfulness—taking time to count your blessings and adjust your attitude of gratitude. Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is a good medicine”.
Research shows that being thankful is actually good for your health. Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California in Davis, says, “Clinical trials indicate that the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life: It can lower blood pressure, improve immune function and facilitate more efficient sleep.” The University of California San Diego’s School of Medicine linked gratefulness with better heart health, specifically less inflammation and healthier heart rhythms. Paul Mills, another researcher, found that thankful people “showed a better well-being, a less depressed mood, less fatigue, and better sleep.”
-Bishop Lalachan Abraham
