Cultivating Joy: The Transformative Power of Gratitude in the Midst of Life's Challenges

Gratitude, we’ve all heard that it’s helpful to focus on what you have rather than yearn for or complain about what you don’t have. I’m here to share just how much gratitude has helped me find joy again while going through some incredibly tough challenges.

It all started when I was 26 years old and I watched one of my best friends take her last breath. Her battle with cancer ended. I was lost, disconnected, angry, sad and frustrated by life. I was complaining about everything that was going wrong, which of course amplified my misery…I felt stuck. So I started reading self-development books and fell into the Jack Canfield coaching program as a client. They helped me focus on what was going right in my life, and what I was grateful to still have in my life even though my best friend was gone. I realized I have the gift of health, thanks to my friend. We both smoked cigarettes (and she died of melanoma, not lung cancer) so we said once she gets better, we’ll quit together. After watching her take her last breath, I quit smoking with her 2 days later. Once I reflected on the fact that she gave me health, in a way, my vibration started to get “unstuck”.

Fast forward about 10 years, I’m married, bought our first house, had 2 babies and was feeling overwhelmed by life. Anybody else ever feel that way? I started going to pilates classes, simply for a break from home, and the instructor asked us to think about 3 things we were grateful for just for that day at the end of each class. I started to feel a little less overwhelmed. This simple action helped me to reflect on my day and once I started thinking about what I was grateful for, the simplest things started to come to mind – like I was grateful that I actually showered that day or that my babies slept through the night or that I actually showed up for the pilates class. Again, my vibration went up, realizing how many things went right, just that one day. So I started my own practice of writing 3 new things I was grateful for, in a dedicated journal, every single morning. It was wonderful, exhilarating, empowering. This simple activity helped me gain more light, love and joy in my life.

Fast forward 5 more years and boom, tragedy strikes again, a life changing experience. My little sister passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly in March of 2019. At this point, I couldn’t even find my breath much less any gratitude. When tragedy happens in our lives, we have a choice to become bitter or better. I subconsciously chose bitter and took it out on all the wrong people. I was so angry that my younger sister was gone, just like that and I couldn’t do a thing about it…I took my anger out on my coworkers, my husband, my kids, my family and mostly myself. My body started to breakdown, everything hurt, I was drinking too much, eating crap all the time, skipping workouts, stopped the positive, helpful daily habits I was practicing and was miserable.

It took me 9 months and consistent coaching to realize what I was doing to myself and to the relationships I had in my life. I knew if I wanted different results, I needed to do some things differently. The first thing I implemented, once I decided I was going to change my life, was to start writing in a gratitude journal again. So I bought a new one and started the journey. After just a few days, I started to recognize the shifts I was creating, the healthier choices I was making and the increase in joy I was able to experience again.

Thinking about and feeling gratitude costs nothing but a few minutes and it’s a choice we get to make for ourselves and for our lives.

So I thought I’d share some empowering actions you might want to experiment with for yourself if you would like a higher vibration of more joy, love and light in your own life:

1. Jot down a few things you accomplished today vs. focusing what you didn’t do or get done

2. Youtube some Yin yoga and try some mantras while you’re doing it – I am grateful or I am taking care of myself or I believe in myself

3. Write 3 new things that you are grateful for every morning or night

4. Ask 3 people in your life to share at least 1 new thing they are grateful for just for today

5. At the dinner table, ask everyone what’s one thing that made them smile today

Stay curious when trying these out, see what works and stick with it for at least 7 days. If it’s not working or starting to feel obligatory, stop and try something else out, experiment, have fun with it. Be gentle and tender with yourself. Every shift you make takes some effort, and trust that you and the people you have in your life are worth it.

If you would, go ahead and share 1 aha, appreciation or insight you’re walking away with in the comments below. Thank you so much for hanging out with me and Keep living on purpose you guys!

Karielle