When we’re feeling hopeless, alone, anxious, or angry, it’s often hard, if not impossible, to be grateful. We might know we should be grateful, but it can be challenging to express gratitude. Maybe you’re burdened with personal problems or struggling with job uncertainty, financial difficulties, infidelity in your relationship, or family chaos.

We might know we should be grateful, but it can be challenging to express gratitude.

Gratitude might not immediately heal your stress or heartache, but it can help ease the pain in your heart and mind little by little. Gratitude can also provide hope. There are many good reasons to make gratitude a daily habit throughout your life. Instead of worrying about the future, gratitude reminds us of our current situation, the present. Gratitude helps us focus on what’s good, on what works, rather than what doesn’t. When we focus on the good things in our lives, we train our brains to seek the positive. So, by practicing gratitude, we’ll see more good things in the world. Our problems won’t disappear, but they’ll feel easier to handle.

Gratitude helps us focus on what’s good, on what works, rather than what doesn’t.

True gratitude, like love, may seem like something you have to feel, but it’s actually an emotion. All you need is the willingness to practice gratitude, even if feelings of resentment, sadness, or fear have diminished. Don’t wait for gratitude to come on its own; if you’re not feeling happy right now, try one or more of the following:

Reach out to your friends, parents, or siblings and thank them for the support they’ve given you in your life. You can be specific, like mentioning how they listened to your stories when you went through a divorce or baked your favorite cake when they knew you hadn’t had it in a while.

Reach out to your friends, parents, or siblings and thank them for the support they’ve given you in your life.

Also, express your gratitude to anyone around you who has helped you, even if it’s part of their job. For example, thank the supermarket cashier who assisted you, and praise them for their kindness, efficiency, or patience with your complaints.

You can also show gratitude through actions, such as showing love to a demanding partner by taking out the trash, doing the laundry, cooking a meal, even when you don’t feel grateful. Usually, by practicing gratitude, you’ll start to feel more grateful, and you don’t need to judge yourself or even scold yourself for not always feeling thankful.

Usually, by practicing gratitude, you’ll start to feel more grateful, and you don’t need to judge yourself or even scold yourself for not always feeling thankful.

Remember: What you don’t appreciate now, you might appreciate later. Sometimes, circumstances we perceive as difficult, disappointing, or painful can actually benefit us. We usually don’t see the big picture until some time has passed. So, be kind to yourself if you’re going through tough times and struggling to feel grateful. This is your chance to cultivate self-acceptance for your emotional journey. Even though you’re extremely upset, and you’re still asking yourself, “What’s the point of this?” You might have heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,” but remember, only if we can learn from our difficult experiences. Life’s lessons will unfold as your journey continues, so don’t worry if you don’t see them now – keep your heart open.