Have you ever made a gratitude list—but still felt stressed afterward?

Gratitude is powerful for our emotional wellness—but what if there’s a simple way to experience it more deeply?

In today’s episode of Breathe, Bonnie explores the science of gratitude and a simple “story twist” that can help lift your mood, calm stress, and help you notice God’s goodness in a more personal way. Instead of only naming what you’re grateful for, you’ll learn how vividly remembering the story around your gratitude helps reframes your day and boosts your mood with thanksgiving to God.

Bonnie also shares a personal story from her recent trip to North Carolina, where an unexpected encounter reminded them that gratitude is not just about good things, but the giver God was present in their stories.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why our brains naturally pay more attention to stress and negative experiences—a tendency psychologists call negativity bias
- How gratitude can help redirect our attention toward something good that is also true
- What research on positive autobiographical memories tells us about why vividly remembering a positive experience can lift our mood
- Why savoring the story behind your gratitude may help you experience the positive emotions of that moment again
- How to bring your gratitude story into prayer and notice where God met you personally
- A simple Gratitude Story Twist you can practice when stress starts telling the story of your day

Scripture
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” — Psalm 118:1

“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God… overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” — 2 Corinthians 9:11–12

Breath Prayer
Inhale: I give thanks to You, Lord…
Exhale: Your steadfast love endures forever.

Resources & Studies Mentioned
Negativity Bias: The Negativity Bias, Revisited: Evidence from Neuroscience Measures and an Individual Differences Approach https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31750790/
Gratitude & Emotional Well-Being: The Effects of Gratitude Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37585888/
Positive Autobiographical Memories & Mood: Research examining how vividly reliving positive autobiographical memories is associated with improvements in mood. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31348599/

 → Read Whispers of Rest: 40 Days to Revitalize Your Soul with God's Love, by Bonnie:
https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd

→ Join Bonnie on Instagram @thebonniegray

 →  Eucalyptus Shower Steamers for instant calm at Bonnie's Soul Care Store

  Watch YouTube Devotionals:
https://youtube.com/thebonniegray

Have you ever made a gratitude list&mdash;but still felt stressed afterward?
Gratitude is powerful for our emotional wellness&mdash;but what if there&rsquo;s a simple way to experience it more deeply? In today&rsquo;s episode of Breathe, Bonnie explores the science of gratitude and a simple &ldquo;story twist&rdquo; that can help lift your mood, calm stress, and help you notice God&rsquo;s goodness in a more personal way. Instead of only naming what you&rsquo;re grateful for, you&rsquo;ll learn how vividly remembering the story around your gratitude helps reframes your day and boosts your mood with thanksgiving to God. Bonnie also shares a personal story from her recent trip to North Carolina, where an unexpected encounter reminded them that gratitude is not just about good things, but the giver God was present in their stories. In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn: - Why our brains naturally pay more attention to stress and negative experiences&mdash;a tendency psychologists call negativity bias - How gratitude can help redirect our attention toward something good that is also true - What research on positive autobiographical memories tells us about why vividly remembering a positive experience can lift our mood - Why savoring the story behind your gratitude may help you experience the positive emotions of that moment again - How to bring your gratitude story into prayer and notice where God met you personally - A simple Gratitude Story Twist you can practice when stress starts telling the story of your day Scripture &ldquo;Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!&rdquo; &mdash; Psalm 118:1 &ldquo;You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God&hellip; overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.&rdquo; &mdash; 2 Corinthians 9:11&ndash;12 Breath Prayer Inhale: I give thanks to You, Lord&hellip; Exhale: Your steadfast love endures forever. Resources &amp; Studies Mentioned Negativity Bias: The Negativity Bias, Revisited: Evidence from Neuroscience Measures and an Individual Differences Approach <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31750790/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31750790/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790034920804000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0SYEv_ql1xiwh1jT1gSjrg">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31750790/</a> Gratitude &amp; Emotional Well-Being: The Effects of Gratitude Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37585888/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37585888/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790034920804000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ixMqO9P8oSsznMLoYdStu">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37585888/</a> Positive Autobiographical Memories &amp; Mood: Research examining how vividly reliving positive autobiographical memories is associated with improvements in mood.<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31348599/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31348599/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790034920804000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mKRKnK_KKjkzY_2YKULyd"> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31348599/</a>
&nbsp;&rarr;&nbsp;Read Whispers of Rest: 40 Days to Revitalize Your Soul with God's Love,&nbsp;by Bonnie: <a href="https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790034920804000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1z_FxjpiZZAerO8tutYFO-">https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd</a>
&rarr;&nbsp;Join Bonnie on Instagram&nbsp;<a>@thebonniegray</a>
&nbsp;&rarr;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eucalyptus Shower Steamers for instant calm at&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/488VVBI" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/488VVBI&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790034920804000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ixeisLfXrufQLN7iranhs">Bonnie's Soul Care Store</a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Watch YouTube Devotionals: <a href="https://youtube.com/thebonniegray" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtube.com/thebonniegray&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790034920804000&amp;usg=AOvVaw06qSUrIYnwbHYlIbdYo2KK">https://youtube.com/thebonniegray</a>

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.

Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 

🌸 Feeling Anxious? Cast Your Cares on God Because He Cares For You
🌸 3 Ways to Break Free from Stress, Worry & Anxiety
🌸 How to Say No to Fear & Yes to God PLUS What's the Difference Between Secular & Biblical Meditation?
🌸 Is It Burnout Or Is God Stretching You? 4 Signs to Know the Difference PLUS 4 Mental Health Benefits of Stories
🌸 3 Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking, Improve Your Mood During the Day, & Get the Sleep Your Body Needs
🌸 The Antidote to Stress & Fatigue + The Surprising Causes – Plus Raising Stress-Resilient Kids

FOLLOW BONNIE:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegray
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
Her site: http://www.thebonniegray.com

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.
Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 
🌸 Feeling Anxious? Cast Your Cares on God Because He Cares For You 🌸 3 Ways to Break Free from Stress, Worry &amp; Anxiety 🌸 How to Say No to Fear &amp; Yes to God PLUS What's the Difference Between Secular &amp; Biblical Meditation? 🌸 Is It Burnout Or Is God Stretching You? 4 Signs to Know the Difference PLUS 4 Mental Health Benefits of Stories 🌸 3 Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking, Improve Your Mood During the Day, &amp; Get the Sleep Your Body Needs 🌸 The Antidote to Stress &amp; Fatigue + The Surprising Causes – Plus Raising Stress-Resilient Kids
FOLLOW BONNIE: Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thebonniegray">https://instagram.com/thebonniegray</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/thebonniegray">https://facebook.com/thebonniegray</a> Her site: <a href="http://www.thebonniegray.com/">http://www.thebonniegray.com</a>

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less,...

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.

Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 
Ways to Eliminate Anxiety & Cast Your Cares on God 
Tips to Break Free from Stress, Worry & Anxiety
Recommendations on How to Say No to Fear & Yes to God
Ways to Raise Stress-Resilient Kids
Mental Health Benefits of Stories of Stories & Activities 
Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking
Tips to Improve Your Mood During the Day & Get the Sleep Your Body Needs
The Difference Between Secular & Biblical Meditation
The Difference Between Burnout & God Stretching You
The Antidote to Stress & Fatigue + The Surprising Causes 

FOLLOW BONNIE:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegray
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
Her site: http://www.thebonniegray.com 

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.
Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 
<ul>
<li>Ways to Eliminate Anxiety &amp; Cast Your Cares on God </li>
<li>Tips to Break Free from Stress, Worry &amp; Anxiety</li>
<li>Recommendations on How to Say No to Fear &amp; Yes to God</li>
<li>Ways to Raise Stress-Resilient Kids</li>
<li>Mental Health Benefits of Stories of Stories &amp; Activities </li>
<li>Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking</li>
<li>Tips to Improve Your Mood During the Day &amp; Get the Sleep Your Body Needs</li>
<li>The Difference Between Secular &amp; Biblical Meditation</li>
<li>The Difference Between Burnout &amp; God Stretching You</li>
<li>The Antidote to Stress &amp; Fatigue + The Surprising Causes </li>
</ul>
FOLLOW BONNIE: Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thebonniegray">https://instagram.com/thebonniegray</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/thebonniegray">https://facebook.com/thebonniegray</a> Her site: <a href="http://www.thebonniegray.com/">http://www.thebonniegray.com </a>

The Science of Gratitude: The “Story Twist” That Can Lift Your Mood & Reframe Your Day #229

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/3af55548-7c5a-4d2e-b848-b4cb018aa684/transcript