“Practicing gratitude 
invites joy 
into our lives.” 
Brené Brown

It sure is easy to get distracted. The negativity in the world around us is difficult to ignore. It can lead one to believe that the world is basically evil, but with a presence of good. I have always wanted to believe that the world is basically good, but with a presence of evil. By refocusing our lives on gratitude and consciously choosing to see the world through that lens, we can cultivate deeper joy, resilience, and purpose.

The relentless pressures of today’s world — busy schedules, screens, finances, endless expectations, political turmoil — can lead to intense dissatisfaction, anxiety, and a constant sense that life isn’t good enough, that we don’t have enough, and that we ourselves are not enough. Fortunately, we have the power to choose where to place our attention and to refocus on the good in our lives.

I recently took a short break from writing. I needed time to reorient myself to what’s really important in my life and to remind myself that gratitude changes how I interpret everything. It helps me to notice and appreciate blessings I once overlooked — people, nature, simple moments, and opportunities. It transforms challenges into teachable moments and setbacks into opportunities for growth. 

Gratitude shifts my focus from what’s wrong to what’s right, from what’s missing to what is present, from self-centeredness to connection with others, and from dissatisfaction to having a greater appreciation for what I have already. 

In a commencement address at BYU-Hawaii, university president John Kauwe said, “Through the lens of gratitude, we can clearly see the privileges that we enjoy, the blessings and opportunities all around us, even in the toughest conditions. Gratitude allows us to see happiness and satisfaction through the glare of challenging life events. Without it, we can be overwhelmed by envy, contempt, and misery, rendered completely unable to see the good that is in our lives.”  

Refocusing on gratitude is a lifelong challenge and a daily decision. Those who know me might be familiar with a collection of polo shirts I wear regularly. The shirts are embroidered with the words Gratitude makes a difference. By choosing to see life around me through the lens of gratitude, I am able to transform not only my perspective, but my life. Gratitude doesn’t change everything around me, but it does change everything within me.

As I approach the 20th anniversary of the beginning of my gratitude journey (November 2006), I need to make a more concerted effort to keep the focus of this blog, and of my life, on gratefulness. It really does make a difference.