Today, I wrote a LinkedIn article about navigating burnout with gratitude. It was all about work-life, the hustle, and how gratitude can help professionals shift their energy. But here’s the thing: burnout doesn’t just show up in your job.
Whether you’re burned out in a relationship, overwhelmed as a parent, or simply exhausted by life’s chaos, gratitude can be a transformative tool. But gratitude is NOT about ignoring the hard stuff or sugarcoating challenges. It’s about shifting perspective and finding value in even the toughest situations.
Gratitude for the Ick
Gratitude isn’t just about putting on rose colored glasses and looking for sunshine and unicorns. Yes, we can look for the positives in life. But gratitude can also be used to reframe and navigate the ick in life.
When we choose to look for lessons or opportunities in adversity, we can take back control of our energy.
I’m not just throwing out theory here, either. I learned this the hard way.If you’ve followed me before, then you may already know I’m a walking a miracle. I spent a few years of my life in a dark abyss that included losing my health, my marriage and my career—all in the same year.I spent the good part of a year with a bed in my living room so I could watch my kids play.While I was positive and optimistic when I was with them, in the moments when I was alone, I was scared out of my mind. I was overwhelmed, frustrated, and had no clue what my future would hold—or how much of a future I had at all.It was during that time I learned to hang on to any bit of gratitude I could find. And that included learning to be grateful for my circumstances rather than always looking for what to be grateful for in spite of them. Once I learned to do that, it helped me navigate my challenges with a little more grit and a little more grace.
Gratitude isn’t reserved for office meetings or team-building exercises. It’s something you can use to navigate the real stuff—the messy, imperfect, sometimes downright frustrating moments of everyday life.
Gratitude for the Mess
I’m not talking about slapping a smile on your face and pretending everything’s fine. No one needs that kind of toxic positivity. I’m talking about digging into the hard stuff and finding something—anything—you can appreciate or learn from.So what does that look like?
In day-to-day life it might look like finding gratitude
In Relationships: That partner who leaves dishes in the sink? It’s a chance to practice communication, set expectations, or even reflect on what you value most in a partnership.
As a Parent: Feeling overwhelmed by endless demands? Be grateful for the opportunity to model resilience and problem-solving for your kids.
In Daily Life: Stuck in traffic? It’s an opportunity to slow down, listen to a great podcast, or practice patience.
Why It Works
Here’s the magic of gratitude: it doesn’t change the situation—it changes you. It rewires our brains to focus on what’s positive, reducing stress and boosting emotional resilience. It softens the edges, helps you shift focus, and gives you the clarity to decide what’s worth your energy.
Gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff; it’s about finding a way to grow through it. If you can do that, even the messiest moments become a little more manageable—and maybe even meaningful.
How to Start
Pick One Thing: What’s been driving you nuts lately? Find one thing you can appreciate about it.
Say It Out Loud: Even if it’s just to yourself. Gratitude feels different when you speak it into existence.
Let It Move You: Use that gratitude as fuel—not to ignore the problem but to face it with a clearer mind and more intention.
Life’s burnout moments aren’t going anywhere. But with gratitude, you can navigate them a little differently—and come out on the other side a little stronger.
And as I learned from that bed in the living room, some of life’s most beautiful moments come in the messy, chaotic blah of it all. It’s easy to think that life’s best moments are only the picture-perfect ones—those glamorous milestones or big achievements. But in reality, it’s the messy, unplanned, and unexpected moments that often hold the most meaning and ultimately make life worth living . . .~Your Real Life Fairy Godmother™
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