Five Habits For A Thankful Heart 🦃

Friends,

As we head into Thanksgiving, we wanted to share something that has shaped both of us in our work and our spiritual lives. These thoughts are inspired entirely by an article from Steve Graves, who has been a significant coach and mentor to both of us. Steve has a way of distilling wisdom that hits both the heart and the leadership seat, and these ideas come right out of his influence.

Here are five practices that can enrich your Thanksgiving and re-center your heart for the season ahead.

Let your mind walk back through the year.

Before we rush toward what is next, Thanksgiving invites us to look back with honesty. What has God carried you through. Who has He placed beside you. What growth came from hard places. What gifts surprised you. When you take time to remember, it strengthens your soul and clarifies how you want to lead going forward.

Turn the spotlight toward someone else.

Leadership often puts us at the center, but gratitude grows best when the focus shifts outward. Think about the people who make your life lighter, your work better, and your world more stable. Thank them. Speak it out loud. Make room for someone else to feel seen. It will shape you more than you think.

Practice paying attention.

Gratitude does not usually appear in big moments. It grows in the small ones. A good conversation. A simple win. A meal with people you love. A moment of peace. This week, take a few minutes each night to name what was good. Appreciation is a habit, and habits form hearts.

Let go of the thoughts that clutter your spirit.

If you lead anything or carry responsibility for anyone, you know how loud your inner world can get. Pressure, comparison, insecurity, the quiet feeling that you should be farther along than you are. Thanksgiving offers a chance to sort through that noise. Ask what is true. Ask what is good. Ask what is actually helpful. Release what does not belong. Gratitude grows in uncluttered space.

Choose contentment on purpose.

Ambitious people are always reaching for more. More growth. More opportunity. More progress. There is nothing wrong with that, but Thanksgiving invites us to stop and acknowledge what God has already given. The relationships that shape us. The work that sits in front of us. The provision that meets us every day. Contentment is not about settling. It is about trusting. And trust is what strengthens a grateful heart.

Our hope for you this Thanksgiving is simple. Whether you are with family, with friends, with your team, or catching a quiet moment alone, let these practices shape your posture.

• Remember

• Celebrate

• Notice

• Clear

• Rest

When a heart is grateful, the people around you feel it. Your home feels it. Your workplace feels it. Your relationships feel it. Gratitude has a way of changing the atmosphere.

May this Thanksgiving bring clarity, peace, and a renewed sense of God’s presence in your life.

In your corner,

David and Tyler