Some mornings, you wake up with a heaviness in your chest. The kind that makes even getting out of bed feel impossible. 

Your mind is already flooded with dread—and the day hasn’t even begun.

When life and motherhood feel this heavy, the idea of practicing gratitude can sound… laughable. 

Yes, it’s often the last thing you want to do when you’re barely making it through the day.

I know that feeling. The frustration, the overwhelm, the inner battle of trying to hold it all together while quietly falling apart. 

And in that fog of self-doubt, practicing gratitude can seem unrealistic. Like some fluffy advice that doesn’t apply to your messy reality.

Because how do you feel grateful when you’re mentally drained and barely holding on? When the life you dreamed of feels like it’s slipping through your fingers?

I used to ask the same thing.

That’s why I wrote this—for the tired, lost moms silently drowning.

In this post, I want to share how gratitude helped me through some really hard seasons, the quiet ways it can support your mental and emotional well-being, and a few simple ways you can begin practicing it too.

Because gratitude isn’t just for the good days. It’s a quiet kind of strength that can carry you through the hard ones.

When Practicing Gratitude Feels Impossible

There was a season in my life when I was simply trying to survive. 

I didn’t need some vague or nice-sounding advice. I needed something real. Something that actually worked.

I was tired of empty advice. I needed clarity. I needed answers. I needed something—anything—that could help me make sense of the chaos I felt inside.

And then I stumbled across the idea of practicing gratitude.

I didn’t expect much. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything at all. 

I just knew there were still things I could be thankful for—My life. My kids. A roof over our heads. Food on the table.

I wasn’t sure if practicing gratitude would change anything. But I was desperate… and maybe just curious enough to try.

“What do I have to lose?” I whispered to myself.

So I began small. A quiet “thank you” in the morning. A breath of thanks before bed. I wrote things down—even on the days when it felt hard to find anything good. 

There were days I had to dig deep. On other days, it poured out naturally.

And slowly… something shifted.

No, gratitude didn’t erase my problems. But it gave me a sense of peace and healing I hadn’t felt in a long time. 

It helped me pause and recognize what was still good, even in the chaos. 

Living on an island where the ocean is just steps away and nature is always within reach, has made practicing gratitude feel more natural. 

Surrounded by the sea, the trees, the open sky… I’m constantly reminded that even in the darkest seasons, light still exists. That there’s always something to come home to, even if it’s just this moment.

Why Practicing Gratitude Matters, Especially for Overwhelmed Moms

As moms, we carry so much. The physical demands, the emotional load, the invisible weight of constantly caring for others while trying not to lose ourselves in the process.

And when everything feels heavy and out of control, practicing gratitude can feel like the smallest thing.

But sometimes, it’s the smallest things that save us.

A quiet “thank you.” A deep breath. A reminder that even in the mess—you’re still here. You’re still whole.

Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything’s fine.

It’s not about forcing a smile when your soul feels broken.

It’s about letting the beauty exist alongside the pain.

It’s about saying: “I’m struggling right now, but I’m still grateful to be here.”

It’s about shifting your focus from what’s missing to what’s still here.

From survival to presence.

From chaos to clarity.

Even one grateful thought can soften your heart and calm your thoughts.

Tony Robbins said it well: “Gratitude turns struggle into strength, frustration into focus. And pressure into purpose.”

And I’ve found that to be true.

Practicing gratitude doesn’t just make you feel better—it helps you see better. 

It opens your eyes to what’s still here, still good, still worth holding onto.

The more you practice gratitude, the more you train your mind to see possibilities instead of just problems.

So when the heaviness creeps in, I step outside. I look at the sky, the ocean, the trees. I feel the breeze on my face. And I whisper: Thank You.

Not because everything is perfect, but because even now… this moment is still a gift.

Gratitude is a practice.

And with each day, it becomes easier to find the good, even in the hard.

A Simple Daily Gratitude Practice You Can Start Today

You don’t need hours. You don’t need a perfectly written journal. You just need a few quiet moments.

Here’s a simple method to start practicing gratitude, inspired by Jim Kwik, a brain coach and host of the Kwik Brain Podcast.

Just remember T.H.A.N.K.S.:

T – Time

✅ Carve out even five minutes each day. Morning or evening. This is your space to pause and breathe.

H – Highlight

✅ What made you smile today? What made you feel safe, even for a moment? Highlight the good.

A – Acknowledge

✅ Who helped you today, supported you, or showed you kindness? Name them. Feel the connection.

N – Nature

✅ Step outside. Let the sunlight hit your face. Watch the trees sway. Let nature remind you, you’re still here.

K – Kindness

✅ Be kind to others, and to yourself. Gratitude grows in hearts that choose compassion.

S – Savor

✅ Slow down. Savor the warmth of your coffee. The sound of laughter. The stillness of this moment.

Start where you are. Even one word of thanks is enough to begin practicing gratitude.

Practicing Gratitude Won’t Fix Everything, But It Will Carry You Through

Mama, I know how heavy life can feel. 

I know what it’s like to wake up frustrated, to feel like you’ve lost yourself, to wonder if things will ever get easier.

But practicing gratitude even when it feels like the last thing you want to do, can be the soft place your heart lands when everything feels like too much.

No, it won’t solve everything overnight. But it will give you moments of peace.

It will anchor you when your thoughts start to spiral. It will shift your focus from lack to abundance.

And slowly, practicing gratitude will remind you that you’re still here.

Still breathing. Still capable of finding joy—one moment at a time.

So start today.
Write one thing down.
Say “thank you” out loud.
Stand under the sky and breathe in the beauty of just being here.

You don’t have to feel ready. You just have to begin.

We rise by lifting each other.
If this message gave you strength, share it with another mama who needs to hear it too. Your small act of kindness might be the hope they’ve been waiting for. 🩵