Ep. 12 Cultivating Thanks in Everyday Life

Living the Grace Life

Does gratitude in everyday life come easily for you? What about when life is hard and life-altering events like COVID-19 come crashing through your calendar?

In this episode of 'Living the Grace Life,' host Jennifer Sakata introduces the concept of 'Thanks Living.' This family tradition merges gratitude with the Thanksgiving spirit by creating a daily gratitude calendar in November using Halloween candy, encouraging family members to express unique and specific thanks.

The episode discusses the brain science behind gratitude and its mental and physical health benefits, emphasizing how to sustain this gratitude throughout the year.

Drawing inspiration from Philippians 4:8, Jennifer shares practical tips such as:

• taking 'thank you God walks'
• rewriting Psalm 136
• engaging in a Gratitude Challenge

Listen in for actionable steps to cultivate gratitude in your everyday life.

Grace Quotes from Jennifer Sakata:

"Gratitude is a natural outflow of living with eyes wide open for all the places God is present."

"Gratitude grounds us in the goodness of God who is with us - always."

"Gratitude impacts our brains and how we live."

Key Scripture from our conversation:

"And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

Resources mentioned:

• Articles on neuroplasticity and gratitude: Cleveland Clinic Research and Feeling Thankful Shapes Our Brains
• IG post on ThanksLiving Calendars
• Jennifer Dukes Lee's IG post on Thank You God Walks
• Amber Cullum's Free Gratitude Practice
• Twyla Franz' Begin-Within Gratitude Series Giveaway
• Twyla Franz' #ReflectJesus Gratitude Challenge

Related Episodes:

ThanksLiving! God is Not Stingy, featuring Jennifer Sakata

Complete show notes here

Connect with Jennifer:

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