Why Gratitude Makes Men Stronger | Manlihood Thanksgiving Special 2025

Manlihood

Happy Thanksgiving, gentlemen!
In this Manlihood Thanksgiving Special, Josh dives deep into gratitude—what it is, what it isn’t, why it matters, and how building a thankful mindset can shape stronger, healthier, more resilient men. This episode includes science-backed benefits, real talk about entitlement and complaining, powerful quotes, personal reflections, and a guided gratitude meditation to help you reset your heart and mind.

If you need encouragement today—or want a new perspective on gratitude—you’re in the right place.

00:00 — Welcome + Thanksgiving intro
01:00 — Why Thanksgiving is Josh’s favorite tradition
01:40 — Gratitude as an intentional practice
02:10 — What gratitude really is: posture, mindset, discipline
02:45 — How gratitude rewires your brain (UC Davis study)
03:00 — Dopamine, motivation, and the science behind gratitude
03:20 — APA: Gratitude reduces anxiety & depression
03:40 — Harvard Medical School on sleep, immune function, stress resilience
04:10 — Gratitude isn’t weak — it’s mental strength training
04:30 — The opposites of gratitude
04:45 — Entitlement: “I deserve this”
05:10 — Complaining: “This isn’t enough”
05:30 — Taking things for granted
06:00 — Quotes on gratitude from Aesop, David Steindl-Rast, Marcus Aurelius, and 1 Thess 5:18
06:45 — Who are you grateful to?
07:20 — Directing your gratitude toward real people
07:45 — Josh’s family Thanksgiving tradition
08:00 — What Josh is thankful for this year
10:00 — Gratitude for the Manlihood community
10:30 — The Thanksgiving Weekend Gratitude Challenge
11:00 — Guided Gratitude Meditation
12:00 — Identifying something you’re grateful for
13:00 — Identifying someone you’re grateful for
13:30 — Being grateful for growth in yourself
14:00 — Final Thanksgiving message & encouragement
15:00 — Closing thoughts: Gratitude is a way of living

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