Most people underestimate the power of gratitude. They think it’s just about being polite or saying “thank you.” But it’s much more than that. Gratitude as a way of life will change your life in ways you never imagined. 

I’ve noticed something interesting about successful people: they’re often intensely grateful. Your grandmother is a perfect example. She’s been through breast cancer and a host of other medical issues. Right now, she’s dealing with a back problem she’s never had before. But if you talked to her, you’d never know it. She’s smiling, appreciating her faith, her family (especially you), and all the little things most people take for granted.

This isn’t just anecdotal. Research backs it up. Regular gratitude practice has been linked to reduced anxiety and depression. It strengthens relationships. It even improves physical health. One study found that grateful people had better heart health markers. Another showed that gratitude can improve sleep quality. It’s as if being thankful for what you have actually gives you more to be thankful for.

But here’s the really interesting part: gratitude seems to work by shifting your focus. When you’re grateful, you’re not thinking about what you lack. You’re thinking about what you have. This shift in perspective is subtle but powerful. It’s like switching from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. And that switch can change everything.

Think about it this way: when you’re focused on what you don’t have, you’re always chasing. You’re never satisfied. But when you’re grateful for what you do have, you operate from a position of strength. You’re not desperate. You can make better decisions. You can take risks from a place of security rather than fear.

So how do you cultivate gratitude? It’s simpler than you might think. Start each day by listing three specific things you’re thankful for. Be concrete: not just “family,” but “the way my sister laughed at my joke last night.” Keep a gratitude journal. Try to find something to appreciate even in difficult situations.

This last point is crucial. It’s easy to be grateful when things are going well. The real power of gratitude shows up when things are tough. Can you find something to be thankful for in a failure? In a setback? If you can, you’ve unlocked a superpower. Because now, nothing can truly defeat you. Every experience becomes an opportunity for growth and appreciation.

One of my old bosses used to say, “Never miss an opportunity to say thank you.” It’s good advice. Expressing gratitude doesn’t just make others feel good – it changes you. It reinforces your own sense of abundance. It strengthens your relationships. And strong relationships are one of the best predictors of success and happiness in life.

Here’s a thought experiment: imagine if everyone started their day with gratitude. How would the world be different? My guess is we’d see a lot less conflict and a lot more cooperation. We might even see more innovation. After all, grateful people tend to be more open to new experiences and ideas.

Gratitude isn’t just a nice-to-have. In a world that’s constantly trying to tell you you’re not enough, gratitude is a kind of superpower. It’s a way of saying, “Actually, I have enough. I am enough.” This doesn’t mean you stop striving or growing. But it does mean you do so from a place of contentment rather than desperation.

There’s another aspect of gratitude that’s often overlooked: it’s contagious. When you express gratitude, you’re not just changing yourself. You’re changing the people around you. You’re creating a ripple effect that can spread far beyond your immediate circle.

As I write this it is the day after Cookie’s birthday.  She woke up and went straight to a birthday card from Christian and Madison and they both had written how they are grateful for her.  She re-read that card because it made her feel so good.  The power of a simple expression of gratitude cannot be underestimated. 

I’ve seen this in action in business. The most successful business owners I know are often the most grateful. They appreciate their teams, their customers, even their competitors (since strong competition makes you better and keeps complacency at bay). This attitude attracts good people and good opportunities. It creates a positive feedback loop that can propel a company to great heights.

But you don’t have to be a business person to benefit from gratitude. You can start right where you are. Begin each day with a moment of thanks. Make it a habit. At first, it might feel forced or awkward. That’s okay. Like any skill, gratitude gets easier with practice.

Over time, you might notice some changes. You might find yourself complaining less and appreciating more. You might notice opportunities you would have missed before. You might even find that challenges don’t bother you as much as they used to.

So start each day with gratitude. It’s a small change that can have big results. And who knows? You might just change the world in the process. Because a world filled with grateful people would be a very different world indeed. It would be a world with less fear, less anger, and more kindness. A world where people lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. And it all starts with you, right now, choosing to be grateful. It’s a superpower that’s available to everyone. All you have to do is use it.