We always thank God for all of you.
—1 Thessalonians 1:2
Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, and author of The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being by Giving Thanks, coined the term “defiant gratitude.” Defiant gratitude is the attitude of being grateful in spite of circumstances; taking charge of your feelings about a situation instead of letting the situation take charge of your feelings.
How do you do that?
One way is to consciously think about people who have done things for you that you could never have done for yourself.
Another is to think about the people you’ve been taking for granted: those who serve you, encourage you, care for you—those who make your life pleasant. Thank God for them.
Defy ingratitude by being intentionally grateful.
A wide-eyed sense of gratitude
is the key to the storehouse of happiness.