UXL Blog

I get it. It’s not always easy to feel grateful when life is difficult. You might be experiencing personal crises, or you may be troubled by the state of the world. Whatever the case, I’m here to tell you that there’s always a reason to be grateful. You just have to look for it.

I know this is easier said than done. At times, you might genuinely think there is little reason to feel or express gratitude. That’s fine, but I’d invite you to sit quietly with those feelings for a while. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, start to be curious. Ask yourself what’s bogging you down the most, and if that “thing” went away, what would remain? What good parts of your life would be illuminated once the cloud has lifted?

There are several different ways to find and focus on gratitude. Some methods may resonate; others may not. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Create a Quiet Space

Sometimes, life moves so quickly that we forget to slow down, to breathe, to be still (even for a few minutes). Try setting aside a block of time every day for quiet contemplation. This could be in your car after work, in the morning when you first get up, or any other time when you can be alone with your thoughts. Then, you might try to meditate or reflect on gratitude, or journal about it, or make a list of three things that bring you joy. Use this quiet time as a bridge to gratitude.

Go Small

If things are overwhelming right now, you might find gratitude by “going small” and thinking about the little things in life that are going well in this moment. For example, instead of focusing on a family crisis or the latest political or economic turmoil, you might think about your home and how grateful you are for your comfortable couch, your warm bed, the books on your shelves. Or you might think about yourself and the incredible machine of your body. Are you able to go on walks? Do your hands allow you to draw or cook a meal or hug your loved ones? Consider what small things in life give you joy, peace, and/or satisfaction. Sometimes the “simple things” in our lives are actually miraculous and worthy of gratitude.

Contemplate Connections

I guarantee that you mean a lot to at least one person, if not dozens. You make an impact in others’ lives every day, whether you see it or not. It’s easy to take these connections for granted—your spouse, your children, your long-time friends, your co-workers, the people you casually bump into in your neighborhood or at the grocery store—but these are connections worth celebrating! Think about a connection that brings you joy (or has brought you joy lately) and channel your gratitude toward that.

Even if times are tough and gratitude seems difficult to grasp, I am certain you can find something (no matter how small) to be grateful for. In my own life, I have many reasons to feel gratitude: my family, my wonderful friends, my community, my travel. And, as I’m winding down my business, UXL, I feel profoundly grateful for all the support I’ve experienced from clients, blog readers, businesses, and my cheerleaders. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

Tags: finding gratitude, giving thanks, learning to be thankful, life of gratitude, margaret smith leadership, Margaret Smith life coach