We often forget to express gratitude in our daily lives. It’s easy to reserve thankfulness for grand occasions—like holidays or milestones—while overlooking the small, quiet acts that surround us: a stranger holding the door, a friend bringing you a glass of water without being asked. These are acts of kindness and grace woven into each day, yet we rarely acknowledge them.

In this seventh episode of the Live from Rest podcast, Steve Smith dives into how daily gratitude—far from being a once-a-year ritual—can become a transformative habit that unlocks joy. He draws on voices like Brother David Steindl-Rast, who ties happiness to gratitude, and Brene Brown, whose research shows joy and thankfulness are inseparable. Appreciating even the smallest things can shift our perspective and well-being.

This episode is for anyone who feels joy is out of reach—whether you’re caught in stress, battling anxiety, or just moving too fast to notice life’s subtle blessings. 

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Discover how gratitude can unlock joy in your life, not just as a fleeting emotion, but as a transformative practice backed by science and scripture.
2. Explore the powerful connection between practicing daily gratitude and overcoming challenges like depression and anxiety.
3. Learn practical ways to cultivate gratitude and understand how this simple choice can produce the fruit of joy, even in difficult circumstances.

Resources

• Live from Rest Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify 
• Live from Rest App: Google Play | App Store
• Talk by Brother David Steindl-Rast: YouTube
• Brene Brown’s Research and Works: Website
   

Episode Highlights

[0:02] Gratitude and Joy: Introduction and Purpose

• Gratitude as a path to joy; through both gratitude and rest, we can live more fully despite being in a world that grows ever busier by the day.
• Tied to this, the Live from Rest app, available on the App Store and Google Play Store, offers meditation steeped in the path Jesus laid out for us.
• Choosing gratitude reshapes our joy and mental well-being.

[1:05] Steve: “Whatever your situation, consciously choosing gratitude is transformational. It is one powerful thing that you can do to help yourself to become the happier person you want to be.”

[1:20] Brother David Steindl-Rast and the Power of Daily Gratitude

• Brother David Steindl-Rast, an Austrian Benedictine monk, gave a powerful TED talk: “If You Want to Be Happy, Be Grateful."
• He highlights a divide—wealth and relationships don’t guarantee happiness, yet joy thrives amid lack.

[1:48] Steve: “Many people have wealth, possessions, good relationships, maybe all they could want, but they’re not happy. Conversely, there are many who experience great lack and who have circumstances that, by anyone’s standards, are difficult, yet they can be very happy.”

• Gratitude emerges as the key to joy. Happy are the ones who know to give thanks for what they have.
• This prompts a deeper wonder: does gratitude spark happiness, or does happiness fuel gratitude?

[2:37] Brene Brown and the Connection Between Gratitude and Joy

• Brene Brown, a Houston research professor known for vulnerability studies, enters the frame.
• Her work unveils a truth—joyful lives always involve actively practicing gratitude.
• Cultivating gratitude takes effort and resolve, but yields the sweet fruit of joy.
• Steve ties this to his own story, reflecting on years of promoting a thankful mindset.

[4:30] Scientific Studies on Gratitude and Mental Health

• Steve discusses a study of 300 patients with depression and anxiety, randomly assigned to three groups: writing gratitude letters, journaling negative thoughts, or doing nothing.
• The group that wrote gratitude letters showed significantly better mental health scores at four and twelve weeks.

[5:27] Steve: “Those who engaged in gratitude, who were actively choosing to write a grateful letter, had significantly better scores in their mental health at four weeks and twelve weeks.” 

• Steve, a GP specializing in drug addiction, expresses excitement about the prospect of prescribing gratitude as a mental health intervention.
• He suggests creating a patient information leaflet to encourage gratitude practices, such as writing a grateful letter every two days or choosing to be thankful for five things twice a day.

[7:37] Gratitude and Brain Chemistry

• Steve shares his interest in studies linking gratitude and brain chemistry, describing gratitude as an antidepressant.
• An atheist’s tale of journaling gratitude unfolds into an unexpected spiritual stir.
• This echoes Psalm 100 and Aesop’s fable, where gratitude turns what we have into enough.
• He connects gratitude to joy and peace, citing Philippians 4:4-7, which emphasizes thanksgiving leading to peace.

[10:40] Practical Ways to Cultivate Gratitude

• Meal times are a good opportunity to practice gratitude, as many Christians say grace at meals.
• Starting a gratitude diary is also a good tool, which he plans to suggest to his patients with depression and anxiety. Bringing gratitude into meditation is also helpful.

• Practicing daily gratitude can have a powerful and beneficial effect on mental health. Every moment becomes an invitation to practice thankfulness with purpose.

About Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a passionate advocate for finding rest and peace in a world filled with busyness and distraction. A medical doctor with a deep love for both science and faith, Steve brings a unique perspective to the intersection of spirituality, personal reflection, and the wonders of creation. Through his work on the Live from Rest podcast and app, he guides listeners to the glory of God by exploring timeless truths and practical approaches to living with intention and balance.

Drawing on his personal journey, Steve offers thought-provoking insights into the harmony between faith and the natural world. His reflections, grounded in scripture, encourage others to marvel at the intricacy of life and the universe as evidence of God’s design. Known for his relatable storytelling and thoughtful approach, Steve inspires listeners to find rest in the glory of God while navigating life’s challenges. Whether through his meditations, teachings, or reflections on faith, he equips audiences with tools to embrace peace, clarity, and resilience in their daily lives.

About Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a passionate advocate for finding rest and peace in a world filled with busyness and distraction. A medical doctor with a deep love for both science and faith, Steve brings a unique perspective to the intersection of spirituality, personal reflection, and the wonders of creation. Through his work on the Live from Rest podcast and app, he guides listeners to the glory of God by exploring timeless truths and practical approaches to living with intention and balance.

Drawing on his personal journey, Steve offers thought-provoking insights into the harmony between faith and the natural world. His reflections, grounded in scripture, encourage others to marvel at the intricacy of life and the universe as evidence of God’s design. Known for his relatable storytelling and thoughtful approach, Steve inspires listeners to find rest in the glory of God while navigating life’s challenges. Whether through his meditations, teachings, or reflections on faith, he equips audiences with tools to embrace peace, clarity, and resilience in their daily lives.

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Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this episode with your friends and family. Let go of the instinct to dwell on what’s lacking or the habit of moving through life ungrateful. Choosing to practice daily gratitude opens the door to joy. It invites you to rest in the promise of a peace that flows from a thankful heart.

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