Gratitude Is a Choice (Even When Life Is Hard)

You know that moment at Thanksgiving dinner when everyone’s stuffed, you’re eyeing another piece of pie and someone announces it’s time to go around the table and share what you’re thankful for? Yep. That moment.
Some years, the answers come easy. A new house, a new baby, a promotion at work. Life is good!

But other years? Not so much.

Maybe money’s tight. Maybe your job feels shaky. Or maybe life has thrown so many unexpected expenses your way that you’re just trying to make it to December. And the last thing you feel like doing is making a list of everything you’re thankful for.

But here’s the thing: Gratitude isn’t just a feeling. It’s a choice. And you don’t have to love everything about your life to be thankful for the good things in it.

Don’t Let Social Media Steal Your Gratitude

It’s tempting to compare your Thanksgiving to the perfection you see on your phone. Your celebration might be in a tiny apartment while your friends are moving into their dream homes. Or while you’re staying in town for the holidays to save money, it seems like everyone on Instagram is booking another amazing trip.

Comparison has a way of making everything you have seem like it’s not enough. But the truth is, someone else’s beautiful home, amazing vacation or picture-perfect Thanksgiving doesn’t take anything away from your life.

5 Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude
Sometimes you just need to get off social media and stop looking at what everyone else has. But there are other simple ways to start noticing the good things in your own life. Here are five to try.

1. Start a gratitude list
I love a good list. And a gratitude list is one of the easiest ways to start noticing the good things in your life. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just write down three things you’re thankful for each day. And be specific! Instead of writing “my family,” write something like “hearing my kids laugh together in the other room.” It’s those little moments that are so easy to miss.

2. Look at what you already have
Take a minute to notice the everyday things you might take for granted: a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, a friend who checks in on you. Those things might not seem exciting, but they’re a big deal. Sometimes we’re so focused on the next thing we want that we forget to appreciate what’s right in front of us.

3. Remember how far you’ve come
It’s so easy to focus on where you want to be that you forget how far you’ve already come. Think about that credit card you paid off or the month you finally stuck to your budget.
That’s progress! And it’s worth celebrating. Don’t let the next big goal keep you from being thankful for the wins you’ve already had.

4. Find a way to give
One of the best ways to practice gratitude is to give. And no, you don’t need a lot of money to be generous. Make dinner for a friend who’s having a hard week. Offer to watch someone’s kids for an afternoon. Or find a way to help a family in need.
Giving reminds you that you have something to share, no matter how much money is in your bank account.

5. Look for good in unexpected places
Sometimes the good things in life show up in surprising places. Maybe a tough season living paycheck to paycheck is the reason you’re more intentional with your spending now. Or maybe going through something hard brought you closer to a loved one. That doesn’t mean you’re thankful for the hard thing itself, but you can still be thankful for the good that came out of it.

When This Year Is Hard
There are years you’ll look back on and wish you could do all over again. And then there are years you’re just ready to put behind you.

If this has been one of those years, I hope you’ll remember that the hard stuff doesn’t get to define the whole story. Remember, life isn’t a snapshot. It’s a filmstrip. And even when things don’t go according to plan, there’s still room for joy, hope and gratitude.

Whether you’ve had a tough year or not this Thanksgiving, don’t put pressure on yourself to have the perfect answer when it’s your turn around the table. Just be real about what you’re thankful for.

* Rachel Cruze is a two-time #1 national bestselling author, financial expert and co-host of The Ramsey Show and Smart Money Happy Hour. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people how to avoid debt, budget and win with money at any stage in life. She's an energetic and thought-provoking speaker and has been speaking to audiences as large as 10,000 since the age of 15 when she began making appearances with her father, Dave Ramsey. She has appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, Today, CNN and Fox and Friends and has been featured in People, Parade, Woman’s Day, Success and Real Simple. Rachel believes it’s possible for anyone to turn around their finances, win with money, and build a life they love. Follow Rachel on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube