Attitude of Gratitude

New Year's is a great time to look back on my goals. I wrote about my 2014 goals here - It was great to post them so I could review. Some goals I was able to achieve, some goals I came close, and others I missed the mark - or other goals came up instead. It was an eventful year, and I am looking forward to getting settled here in Rolla and focusing on some new goals.

Because I had an eventful and sometimes trying year - I wanted to have a focus in 2015 as part of my goals or mantra. Because the Lord has blessed me more than I could ever know - I want to focus on gratitude. One of the goals I am most looking forward to is my blessing box. Each week (for my family home evening) I'm going to write down one blessing from that week, and then pull them out next New Year's Eve. I think it will be a great new tradition to start in my life. 

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us. - lds.org

My theme for the year will be....

Attitude of Gratitude

It comes from a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from the April 2014 General Conference and you can find it here. Below are a few snippets.

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.......When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.

We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?......How blessed we are if we recognize God’s handiwork in the marvelous tapestry of life. Gratitude to our Father in Heaven broadens our perception and clears our vision. It inspires humility and fosters empathy toward our fellowmen and all of God’s creation. Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes! A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues.

Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

I'd love to hear some of your goals for the new year.