I’m still processing a claim I heard a few days ago: anxiety and gratitude cannot exist at the same time in the brain.
But this “wild claim” of brain + gratitude = no anxiety isn’t anything new. We can trace this formula back to AD 60 (even earlier in the Old Testament), and we can see our typical skepticism as we test it out in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (the studies are endless).
So now that we know there is validity behind this claim, what’s next?
I don’t want to belittle the helpful gratitude exercises that are readily available. I want to focus on the role of $money$ when it comes to increasing gratitude. And there are too many gratitude exercises that don’t include money.
Let’s face it: our spending habits provide insight on our brain’s anxiety/gratitude levels.
Consciously choosing to spend it differently (and generously and gratefully) is a major step to making a long-term difference on our anxiety levels.
As Christians, we should be encouraged to hold money loosely. We should also be cheerfully giving a portion of our income to the church (Prov 3:9).
Christian or not, I’d like to suggest a financial exercise if anxiety seems to have the upper hand in your life right now:
When you buy something you want but don’t need, spend that same amount on someone else.
Buying a $5.75 coffee this morning? Apply the same amount to the person in line behind you.
Bought a new $10.50 book to read? Donate to an organization you like.
Looking at those $200 airpods? Sounds like you’ll have a nice offering to give on Sunday!
Try it for a week! It might not be all butterflies and sunshine 🦋🌞 but, then again, it might 🤷🏻♀️
Millennial MSG 