Gratitude Is a Lifestyle, Not Just a November Vibe How to Stop Chasing the Kardashians and Start Cultivating True Thankfulness (Even When Your Credit Card's Tired)
Let’s be honest: This time of year, the pressure is real. The turkey needs thawing, the family group chat is on fire, and every ad is screaming “BUY NOW!” like your salvation depends on matching pajamas and a decorative reindeer that lights up and sings. Before you know it, you’re knee-deep in comparison mode, wondering why your living room doesn’t look like a Hallmark movie and whether your Thanksgiving tablescape is even Insta-worthy. And somewhere between Black Friday chaos and Pinterest envy, gratitude gets reduced to a seasonal hashtag. But what if gratitude wasn’t a once-a-year thing? What if we stopped trying to keep up with the Joneses… or today’s version, the Kardashians… and started practicing gratitude like it was a daily spiritual discipline, not a performance?
Gratitude Isn’t a Mood, It’s a Muscle Sis, hear me: Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything’s perfect. It’s about choosing to see what’s good, even when life feels messy. It’s about recognizing God’s faithfulness in the mundane, not just the miraculous. It’s waking up and saying, “Lord, thank You for this day… even if it starts with spilled coffee and missing socks.” Because gratitude shifts your focus. It anchors your soul. And according to the Bible, it’s actually God’s will for you.
ALL circumstances. Not just the Pinterest-perfect ones. Even the ones with burnt pies and awkward dinner convos.
Don’t Let the Comparison Trap Steal Your Thankfulness We’ve all been there. One scroll through social media and suddenly… Your home doesn’t feel festive enough. Your table doesn’t look like Joanna Gaines stopped by. Your life doesn’t feel "good enough" to be grateful for. But hear me: Comparison is the thief of joy and gratitude is the lock that keeps your peace safe. Let’s stop maxing out our credit cards trying to impress people who won’t even remember what you served for dessert. Let’s max out our thankfulness instead.
Simple Ways to Practice Everyday Gratitude (That Don’t Involve a $100 Journal)
Sticky Note Gratitude Wall Write one thing you’re thankful for every day on a sticky note. Stick it on your front door so you see it before the world starts pulling at you. Bonus: Invite the kids to add their own. (Yes, “mac & cheese” counts.)
Gratitude Journal Challenge Use our free Gratitude Journal (yep, it’s in the resource section of the website!). Set a goal to write 3 things you're thankful for every morning or night. Even if one of them is just “finally found matching socks.”
Dinner Table Gratitude Game Every night, ask: “What’s one thing you're thankful for today?” It can be serious, silly, or sweet. It might feel awkward at first—but over time, it’ll become sacred.
Text It Out Send a quick thank-you text to someone who’s blessed your life. A friend, a teacher, your barista, the woman who smiled at you in Target… Gratitude multiplies when it’s shared.
Journal Prompts for Cultivating Gratitude Struggling to know where to start?
Try these:
What’s one thing God has done for me this week that I almost missed?
Who in my life do I thank God for—and have I told them lately?
What hard thing am I walking through that’s also growing something good in me?
Where have I seen beauty today—in nature, in a smile, in a small moment?
Make Gratitude a Family Tradition (That’s Better Than Matching PJs) Look, there’s nothing wrong with cute matching jammies (I own three sets, no shame), but imagine building a tradition that actually changes your kids’ hearts—not just your photo album.
Here’s how:
Create a Gratitude Jar – Let the whole family write one thing they’re thankful for each day and drop it in the jar. Read them out loud on Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve.
Do a Thankful Tree – Draw or hang a simple tree and let everyone add paper leaves with their blessings written on them.
Start a Weekly Thankful Walk – Take a short walk and each person shares something they’re grateful for. Exercise + gratitude = win-win.
A Verse to Remember This Thanksgiving
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” —Psalm 100:4 Let that be your front door policy this season: Before you walk out, walk in with praise. Final Thoughts, From One Grateful Hot Mess to Another… Friend, you don’t need more stuff to be thankful. You just need more stillness to notice what God’s already done. The breath in your lungs. The child who hugged you today. The roof over your head—even if it leaks. Let’s not save our gratitude for November. Let’s live in it—every day, with sticky notes, burnt pies, and a whole lot of grace. Because gratitude isn’t seasonal. It’s spiritual. And sister—it’s powerful.
Grab the FREE Gratitude Journal [Here] Includes daily prompts, Scripture reflections, and space to track God’s goodness even on the wildest days. And hey—don’t forget to tag me in your sticky note wall or family gratitude jar! I wanna cheer you on like it’s a Hallmark movie finale.
Love you more than sweet potato pie and stretchy pants,
💛Jenna
