By Confident Parent Author Mike Wilson

We live in a world constantly pushing us to chase after more things. It appears people always want more money, more success, more possessions, more recognition, or more happiness. During this hectic cycle of wanting more, we often forget to be thankful for what we have. This pattern causes us to overlook the intense power of gratitude. It’s quiet, it’s simple, and yet it holds an extraordinary power to transform how we experience life. 

As children, we are in a rush to grow up. We want to be independent, make our own decisions, set our own rules, and live our lives on our own terms.  During this rush to adulthood, we frequently neglect the things that really matter. We forget to show gratitude to those who are providing for us and giving us the things we currently have. We forget that the simple phrase of saying “thank you” can change everything.

A few months ago, my mother passed away. She was 84 years old. She was born at a time when the government was overcoming the Great Depression.  She saw the attack on Pearl Harbor leading the United States into World War II. On the nightly news, she was aware of the Korean War, and Brown versus the Board of Education to end schools’ segregation.  She lived through the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Civil Rights and Voting Rights movements, and saw the first human to land on the moon. She lost friends during the Vietnam War and witnessed the emergence of political superpowers, and the explosion of technology. But to her, none of that mattered. What mattered to her most was raising caring and thoughtful children and her faith. 

So, what is gratitude?  It isn’t just saying thank you when somebody opens the door or hands you a utensil. It’s much more than that. It’s a deeper appreciation for sharing a moment in someone’s life. It is recognizing those who show up when you’re feeling down as if they have an eternal compass to your emotions. It is knowing the beauty that lives in everyone’s spirit. 

When you regularly practice gratitude, you start to see the world differently. You begin to understand that happiness isn’t something you find after everything goes right. It’s something you cultivate, one moment of appreciation at a time. It’s a daily choice to focus on what’s good, to cherish both small and big things.

Gratitude is even a quiet moment of self-reflection on the lessons we’ve learned in our lives’ journey. It’s a mindset, not a mood. Multiple studies in positive psychology have shown that practicing gratitude can lead to improved mental health and reduced depression. It creates better sleep and reduces stress levels and helps you build stronger relationships and social bonds .¹ When we focus on gratitude, we shift our perspective from what’s lacking to what’s plentiful. It’s a small mental pivot that can create massive emotional changes.

Gratitude is not about ignoring pain or real struggles. Instead, it’s about acknowledging joy and hardship. Yet still noticing the good even in the middle of the adversity. Gratitude can coexist with grief, stress, or uncertainty. In fact, during those times, it often becomes a lifeline.²

When you regularly practice gratitude, you start to see the world differently. You begin to understand that happiness isn’t something you find after everything goes right. It’s something you cultivate, one moment of appreciation at a time. It’s a daily choice to focus on what’s good, to cherish both small and big things. So today try to find one thing that you’re grateful for and notice how this practice grows. 

References 

Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. The journal of positive psychology, 1(2), 73-82.

Lyubomirsky, S., Dickerhoof, R., Boehm, J. K., & Sheldon, K. M. (2011). Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: an experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being. Emotion, 11(2), 391.

Michael Wilson is currently the Outreach Coordinator for Harris County Department of Education, CASE Program and host the Making After School Cool podcast. Prior than that he was the Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Baytown.  For over 25 years, he has worked extensively to design and implement programs intended to make the educational experience for students and their families a positive one. Mike is the father of two teenage daughters. Check out the Making After School Cool Podcast at https://case4kids.podbean.com.