As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.

Your wife and children are craving affirmation from you. That might sound like an overgeneralized statement, and it might even be just that – but it’s been my experience, that your family needs to hear the words “Thank You” as often.

I know this because I don’t say it as much as I should, and overtime, that lack of clearly communicated gratitude starts to wear on them. I demand a lot from my kids – I expect them to work hard, and I frequently ask them to do things for me. I often forget to say “Thanks” for those little things. When I do say it – the eyes light up, a smile forms, and their act of service becomes an act of love.

Let’s challenge each other men, to thank the people in our family daily.
For the next 30 days, make it a point to say “Thanks” at least once a day to the people that you live with. Let me know how when you see a change.

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.

Have you ever met a braggart – a pompous ass who loves to bray and flip his ears around, reminding you of how amazing he is?

Of course you have. You may have even been him.
If you aren’t him, though, you are in danger of becoming him. The solution to that problem is to stay humble – and gratitude forces you to do that.

A thankful man doesn’t look to himself as the source for all the good things in his life, but rather identifies the people and forces around him that have contributed to his success.

I think confidence is a sliding scale – and while we all want to be confident people – we may fall short of confidence, and we might overshoot confidence and end up displaying cockiness.

The more time we spend showing our thankfulness, the more we keep that scale in balance.

Actually choosing to be grateful helps to realign your thinking toward the positive. It gets your focus off the distractions of the circumstance themselves, so that you can focus on your end result.

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.

Sometimes, it’s easy for anyone to get fixated on the negative.

A man once remarked that the Grand Canyon was just a big hole in the ground – and while his statement was true – it reflects the “negative space” in the canyon’s void. But what makes the Grand Canyon different than a “hole in the ground” are the soaring canyon walls.

In our lives and in our relationships, we need to cultivate the habit of looking for the good. I think some people may be more naturally disposed to see the negative – so for those, this task may be harder.

As a Christian, I’ve found that saying prayers of thankfulness often remind me of the positive things around me, and they cause me to take the time to reflect on the good, even in tough circumstances. Regardless of your religion or belief system, you may find a thankful ritual helpful.

Good Ole’ Bing Crosby gets it –

Take some time at the beginning and end of your day to make a list of things you are thankful for.
Write them down, speak them out loud, or tell a friend.

That very act of taking inventory is like putting a fugitive’s pillow in front of a bloodhound. Now your mind has “the scent” of the good things in your life, and will more likely recognize them in the moment.

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.

Men, we tend to be creatures of utility, and we tend to act and speak out of utility rather than emotion. For many of us – our words and speech are reserved for work, for selling, for instruction, and I think that often, we toss out the words that we don’t think matter – and as a result, we really don’t say “Thank you,” enough.

When is the last time you thanked your family? Your parents? Your spouse? Your kids?

To demonstrate gratitude requires an intentionality – and while it might not seem like it carries emotional weight – being “thanked” has a huge emotional gratification to those on the receiving end.

To reciprocate gratitude for kindness truly is manly – because it elevates you. It helps you build your reputation, and it cements you in the hearts of the people who give kindness or assistance to you.

While you may strive for independence, the cold hard truth that “no man is an island” needs be your anchor. You aren’t entitled to anything in this life – and even the things you have earned you have earned because someone blessed you with kindness, taught you skills, or shared with you an opportunity.

Be thankful for those blessings, and be vocal with your thanks.