Gratitude in the Chaos: Learning to Be Thankful Anyway
Dear readers,
Let’s have a real moment here. Gratitude isn’t always easy.
I know what the quotes say—“Gratitude turns what we have into enough,” “Start each day with a grateful heart,” and all that—but when life is hitting hard, when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or dealing with stuff nobody even knows about? Gratitude can feel like just one more thing on your to-do list. And if I’m being honest, there have been days where I’ve asked myself, How can I feel grateful when I’m also feeling so low?
But here’s what I’ve learned: gratitude isn’t about pretending life is perfect. It’s not about faking smiles or silencing sadness. Gratitude and grief, gratitude and struggle—they can coexist. And when they do, something beautiful happens. We start to find joy again—not in everything, but in something. And that’s where healing begins.
Gratitude Isn’t a Cure, But It Is a Comfort
Let me be clear: gratitude isn’t a magical fix for depression, anxiety, or burnout. I’ve had moments where I felt guilty for being depressed—like, I’m so blessed, why am I still feeling like this? And maybe you’ve been there too. That thinking is so common, but also unfair to ourselves.
Feeling low doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful. It means you’re human.
What gratitude can do, though, is shift our focus just enough to see the light peeking through the cracks. It helps us notice the small things: the unexpected text that made you smile, the soft blanket on a hard day, the breath you didn’t think you’d catch but did.
Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude When Life Feels Heavy
You don’t need a fancy journal or a perfectly curated morning routine to practice gratitude. Here’s what it looks like for me most days—imperfect, simple, real:
• Name one thing that didn’t go wrong. Sometimes that’s all I’ve got. “The car started today. Thank God.”
• Speak it out loud. I might say it while folding laundry or driving. “I’m grateful for today’s quiet moment.”
• Share it with someone. Text a friend and tell them you appreciate them. The blessing bounces back.
• Create a gratitude jar. It’s low-maintenance but meaningful. Toss in a sticky note when something good happens—then pull them out when you need a reminder.
• Be honest in your prayers. Gratitude isn’t about only thanking God when life feels good. Sometimes I say, “God, I don’t understand today, but thank You for staying with me through it.”
Gratitude as a Daily Practice, Not a Performance
This isn’t about perfection. Some days, your gratitude might look like a well-written journal entry. Other days, it’s just a whispered “thank You” before your feet hit the floor.
You don’t have to feel grateful all the time to practice gratitude. That’s the part I wish more people talked about. There is room for you to cry and be thankful. To feel broken and still look for beauty.
It’s not either/or. It’s both/and.
So if today you’re holding joy in one hand and heaviness in the other—you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it right. You’re showing up. You’re trying. And that, my friend, is something worth being grateful for.
With grace and gratitude,
Just Catrina
