Cultivating Gratitude in Our Children
Parents, you do a fantastic job for your children already. You provide the best you can for them: feed them, clothe them, support them. You’re raising young humans into tremendous adults! But, isn’t it human nature to always want to do better, give more, and provide the best? One of the best things you can give your child is a mindset that will serve them for a lifetime… a mindset of gratitude.

A gratitude mindset simply means we focus on what we have and are thankful for instead of comparing ourselves into sadness. It means that we give more thoughtful attention to the positives in our lives instead of highlighting the negatives. And, it determines the simple idea that life coach, Tony Robbins, often shares: “Where focus goes, energy flows.”
That means that if we want an abundance of good thoughts, great memories, and beneficial actions happening in our lives then we have to focus on what we’re thankful for, the best parts, and wholeheartedly enjoying what is already a part of our lives.
That doesn’t mean that everything is just sunshine and rainbows all the time. In fact, simply relying on positive thinking is never enough. If it was, we could dream about puppies and unicorns all day and the world would be a better place…but, that simply isn’t true.
When it comes to our children we need to show through our actions just how grateful we are for them, who they are and the things they do. We need to have conversations where we highlight the good with them instead of focusing on the negative. We need to point out things that we’re grateful for and let them share grateful experiences of their own. We need to redirect the focus on “what’s missing” to “what’s here now.” We need to even show admiration and appreciation for others and the things that they do and achieve.
These are all parts of the gratitude mindset, but here’s the real catch. If you don’t actively practice a gratitude mindset yourself, you’ll have a hard time imparting or passing that on to your child. Do you catch yourself speaking about how busy and stressed you are all the time in front of them? How hectic the day was including traffic and work? Do you speak on all the things you don’t have and use the phrase “I wish” more often than you’d like?
It becomes REALLY tough to give someone something you don’t have. It’s like trying to give someone an apple when you’re fresh out. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
The GOOD NEWS is that this can become something you practice together. A bonding moment where each of you focus on the good, right there and then, and express thankfulness for things you have. The more you do this you may just find yourself expressing gratitude for the coffee in your hand or being able to give your child a hug.
And, it all can start with just saying what you’re grateful for out loud. Start now. Tell someone something you’re thankful about them or just in general. Use social media. Or, if you’re really shy, just say it out loud to yourself. It may sound corny at first, but if you’re really serious that will change and you’ll only feel the sincerity.
Little eyes are always watching and if you’re intentionally practicing this gratitude with them, you’re shaping their minds to be that of gratefulness. Being thankful is a skill, a thought pattern you have to practice and practice consistently. But, when you do, it’s a state of mind that will serve you for a lifetime.
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Thank you for reading! If you’d like to learn more about the mindset and life skills we practice at Martial Arts Advantage, visit: www.maa.ninja
If this resonated with you or you know someone who would benefit from reading a message like this, please share. Thank you! 🙏
