Being there for your kids - Gratitude Affects Attitude

Episode Date: January 31, 2026

When we grumble about what's wrong in our life, we stay on a downward spiral. I call it the "Woe is me." Eeyore syndrome. It's hard to function while grumbling, and grumbling affects your surroundings as well. Using mentalligent psychotherapy (MPT), I help guide my patients find things in their lives to be grateful for, however how miniscule it might seem to their problems. It's true. Gratitude affects attitude. When you are mindful, focus on the positive, and reframe difficult events in your life, you can turn a downward spiral into upward soaring. My new book, The Healing Journey: Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life, is a great resource for your journey. Buy your copy at https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Journey.../dp/B0CY9PQXMZ.  Blessings,  Dr. Jon

I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Let me ask you a question. Are you grateful? Well, that's an odd question for a therapist to ask. Most folks come to see us to unload all their stuff. What's wrong with their life? How so-and-so screwed them over? How they can't stop thinking about all the bad stuff.

What a mess. When a patient comes into my office, I tell them I'm not their guy if all they want is to rehash, blame, or plot their vengeance. However, if they want to work on stuff over which they have control, get off their downward spiral and begin to soar, then I can be their guide on a healing journey. The intelligent psychotherapist uses mindfulness, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioral strategies seamlessly woven together to gently nudge their patients away from loss and toward life. One of the recurring stops on your healing journey is to find ways to practice gratitude. There are four benefits to a daily practice of gratitude. First, being grateful gets you out of your head, expanding your thought process.

Second, gratitude improves relationships around you, helping you move more quickly through difficult situations. Third, being grateful slows down life, giving you moments where you notice the joy, however it presents. Finally, gratitude helps you let go of attachments or goals and brings more openness to life. Daily gratitude practice helps you embrace the creative process of soaring rather than being stuck in the downward spiral of outcomes. Heather had been under my clinical care for several weeks. She had made progress, picking up the MPT lingo, having moments of soaring. But today she looked glum. My goal was to help her avoid a setback.

As she settled across from me in her chair, I challenged her, Okay, Heather, what's going on? She sighed deeply before beginning. Well, here it is Monday morning, and I just had the weekend from hell. Wow, that's radical. You've usually been updated in our sessions. Unpacked this weekend for me. It was clear that Heather needed to unload, so I gave her the opportunity.

Well, to begin with, Garrett is being his more-than-usual jerk. He complained about my not keeping the house up, like that was solely my responsibility, didn't offer any help, and just veged out watching football the whole weekend. Eventually, I gave it to him. the shouting match, get this, he wanted make up sex. I told him no and stormed off. I coached her through deeper breathing exercises

to help her release to anger and settle back down. Then I suggested that she find the gratitude in her weekend with Garrett, even though he was being a jerk. How about this? I offered. Give me three sentences that describe your gratitude for this weekend with Garrett. Start each sentence with

the phrase, at least Okay, Heather began. At least Garrett didn't hit me like he has in the past. At least we began talking it out. At least we're still together, even though he can be clueless at times. Heather calmed and chuckled after her add-on. We agreed to a couple's therapy appointment the next time to try and help Garrett get on board with Heather's healing journey. To find out more about practicing gratitude on your healing journey through intelligent psychotherapy, that's MPT, by my new book, The Healing Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path to

The Good Life. You can find it on Amazonbooks.com or go to my author website at www.orgonon.com. If my comments stir questions of your own, contact me through my website at www.org thereformykids.com or email me at John Robinson 0.0.Belsouth.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, and my new book, the healing journey, overcoming adversity on the paths of the good life. Blessings, Dr. John. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at Amazonbooks.com and in local and national bookstores.

More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.