Let’s be honest—sometimes it’s hard to be or remain grateful. You wake up, stub your toe, realize you’re out of coffee (this is a huge no-no for me!), and suddenly the whole day is “ruined” before 9am. We’ve all been there at some point. It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what’s taking too long to come to fruition. But here’s the truth: complaining won’t change your situation—gratitude will. The difference between who stays stuck and those who overcome and breakthrough has largely to do with their mindset: what you feed your mind determines what will come forward when you fall into a less than favorable moment, situation, or season. How can you pick yourself up and reclaim the moment or the day if you feast on negative content and gossip all day?
The Dangers of Complaining (AKA the Fast Track to Frustration)
Complaining is like a mosquito at a barbecue—small, annoying, and completely capable of ruining the moment if you let it. It starts with a tiny irritation, but before you know it, you’re in full-blown frustration mode that leads to you complaining about everything that follows.
An online personality, I don't remember which one, spoke about it being 86,400 seconds in a day. Why would we allow something that took 90 seconds to happen ruin the other 86,310 seconds of that day, let alone the 86,400 seconds of the next day?
And spiritually? Complaining is costly.
The Israelites were a prime example. God freed them from slavery, parted a sea, provided manna from heaven, and instead of praising, what did they do? Complain. (Numbers 14:27-30). What was supposed to be an 11-day journey turned into 40 years.
Moral of the story? Complaining keeps you wandering. Gratitude moves you forward.
My Personal Struggles & Triumph
Years ago, my pastor turned to me and told me that I was going to complain my way out of everything God had for me. She pointed out that I was always complaining. My hyper sensitive self went home crying because I genuinely had no idea what she was talking about! However, the thought of losing my blessings scared me, so I prayed asked God to show me if I was indeed complaining too much. He didn't show me what I was doing, He mirrored it in other people so I could see what I looked like when I complained and feel how it made other people feel. This was the instance that led me down the rabbit hole of building a hope foundation to support the weight of faith that was to come in my life. The biggest help to me during this time was intentionally pronouncing my gratefulness for everything around me. It was easy to start, but remaining consistent was difficult. After a while, I began to see the fruit of my lips. It was amazing!
Gratitude: The Secret to Healing & Breakthrough
Here’s something powerful—gratitude isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a healing force.
Science backs this up! Studies show that practicing gratitude reduces stress, lowers anxiety, and even improves heart health. But we didn’t need science to tell us what the Bible already did:
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." – Proverbs 17:22
Gratitude changes your mental atmosphere. It shifts your focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant, from fear to faith, from defeat to expectation. My personal favorite, it lifts the weight off your shoulders. When you train your mind to find the good, you begin to draw more of it in. When your heart's mind is focused on gratitude, the 40,000 neurons flowing to the heart become supercharged and signal to everything around you that you need more gratitude. It pulls in more things to keep you in a consistent state of gratefulness. This isn't hocus-pocus or self-willed conjuring, it's the way God wired you and I.
How the S.O.A.P. Method Will Transform Your Gratitude Game
If you’ve been struggling to shift your mindset, my new 30-day Gratitude Journal is the tool you need. It walks you through the S.O.A.P. Bible study method to help you cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude that renews your mind and transforms your atmosphere.
SOAP stands for:
✔ S – Scripture: Each day, you’ll focus on a verse about gratitude.
✔ O – Observation: What is the verse teaching you?
✔ A – Application: How can you apply it in your life today?
✔ P – Prayer: Seal it with a conversation with God.
This isn’t just a journal—it’s a journey. A path out of negativity, into breakthrough; an aid to help keep you on track if you want to be there. The more you train your heart in gratitude, the more you’ll see the fruit of change in your life.
Are You Ready for a Gratitude Mindset Shift?
You don’t have to wait for perfect circumstances to be grateful—you just need to start where you are. God has already placed blessings in your life. The question is, are you seeing them?
Let’s shift our mindset, break free from frustration, and step into a season of overflowing gratitude. Grab your copy of the S.O.A.P. Gratitude Journal today, and let’s start the journey together!
Drop a 🙌🏾 if you're ready to shift into gratitude! #AttitudeOfGratitude #MindsetShift #Breakthrough Grab your soft or hard cover copy today!
