On gratitude…
This has been my word of the season. People ask how I’m doing and I respond, “I’m grateful” with a big, cheesy grin. It’s true though – I am. I’m so full of gratitude lately, it’s been hard to think of what else to add to that without sounding like I’m bragging (which I’m not, but this newfound continuous gratitude does make me a little uncomfortable). So, in the spirit of gratitude during this season, I want to share about the benefits of mindset shifts and how gratitude specifically can contribute to positive mental changes. This is one of my favorite things to talk about because consistently practicing gratitude and working through mindset shifts was the catalyst for my own journey of digging out of the trenches of working motherhood and discovering a life of joy an inner peace on the other side.
Mindset shifts are a powerful and over-looked tool to tackle so many of our day-to-day challenges. Your mindset is a set of beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that shape how we view the world, as well as how we think, feel, and behave. A mindset shift represents a fundamental change in how we perceive and interpret our experiences, challenges, and opportunities. For working moms, this is particularly powerful because we often juggle multiple demanding roles. The way we view these challenges can dramatically impact our wellbeing and effectiveness.
Mindset shifts can be transformative for moms in several key ways:
From Overwhelm to Opportunity - When moms reframe daily challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, it changes how we experience parenting. For example, rather than seeing a toddler's defiance as exhausting, it becomes a chance to teach emotional regulation while also practicing patience. For example, rather than thinking "I'm overwhelmed by all these responsibilities," shifting to "These challenges are helping me grow stronger and more capable."
From Perfectionism to Progress - Shifting away from unrealistic expectations of being “supermom” and "doing it all perfectly" allows moms to celebrate small wins and find joy in the journey. This could mean appreciating that while the house isn't spotless, you read three books with your child today. When a mom accepts that some days won't go as planned, she can respond with resilience rather than self-criticism.
From Comparison to Contentment - Moving from comparing yourself to other mothers on social media to focusing on your unique family's needs and values brings more peace. Your parenting journey is unique and valid.
And the most impactful for me personally -- Time Perception - Shifting from "I don't have enough time" to "I choose how to spend my time" creates a sense of agency. This helps working moms make intentional decisions about our priorities rather than feeling constantly behind.
Now, regarding gratitude's role in mindset shifts – why do it?
Redirects Focus: When you actively practice gratitude, your brain starts noticing more positive aspects of motherhood. Even during challenging phases like sleep regressions or tantrums, you might find yourself appreciating your child's growing independence or determination. When practicing gratitude, working moms might notice small wins they previously overlooked - like a peaceful morning routine or a child's spontaneous "I love you." This broader awareness counteracts the tendency to focus solely on challenges.
Reduces Stress & Improves Emotional Regulation: Taking moments to acknowledge what's going well releases feel-good hormones that counter stress. This could be as simple as appreciating your child's laughter during bathtime after a hard day. Regular gratitude practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety. For working moms, this can create mental space to approach challenges more constructively.
Builds Resilience: Ah, resilience...we all want our kids to have it, so why not model it? Regular gratitude practice helps develop a more optimistic outlook, making it easier to bounce back from difficult parenting moments. When you've trained yourself to find silver linings, challenges feel more manageable.
Present Moment Awareness: Gratitude naturally draws attention to the current moment rather than past regrets or future worries. This helps working moms fully engage with our children during family time rather than being mentally preoccupied with work.
Now you’re thinking, “I like it, I love it...I want some more of it”. (Sorry, couldn’t resist...blame my cheesy gratitude.) I’m going to share some practical ways you can incorporate more gratitude below, but not without a caveat: Feeling the impacts of this takes time. Seriously, I’ve been working on this for years and only after making some pretty significant changes in my life recently did I realize how much some of my old outlooks were replaced by some of the new one’s I mentioned above. Give yourself grace and just keep practicing.
Practical ways working moms can incorporate gratitude:
Morning reflection: Starting the day by noting three specific things to be grateful for. I’ve actually started doing this when I catch myself complaining or feeling down. I’ll stop and mentally name 3 things I’m grateful for in that moment or that had happened throughout the day up to that point. I’ve found it’s helpful to be detailed rather than generic - instead of "I'm grateful for my family," try "I'm grateful my brother called just to check on me yesterday."
Transition moments: Using the commute to mentally list appreciation for both work and family aspects of life
Family rituals: Creating shared gratitude practices, like expressing thankfulness during dinner. We do this almost every day and my kids seem to really look forward to sharing. They’re usually the ones to remind me to do this.
Work acknowledgment: Recognizing how work contributes to family wellbeing beyond just financial aspects
Practice perspective: taking when facing challenges: Ask yourself "What might I learn from this?" or "How might this difficulty be serving a greater purpose in my growth?"
Share your gratitude with others. Express appreciation to people in your life. This not only strengthens relationships but also reinforces your own positive mindset shift.
The beautiful thing about combining mindset shifts with gratitude is that they reinforce each other. As you practice gratitude, positive mindset shifts happen more naturally. And as your mindset becomes more positive, you find more things to be grateful for. Small daily practices of gratitude gradually reshape our default thinking patterns. Mindset shifts don't happen overnight - they require consistent practice and patience. The key is to start small and maintain consistency rather than attempting dramatic changes all at once. As you cultivate gratitude regularly, you'll likely notice subtle but meaningful changes in how you interpret and respond to life's various situations.
And if you haven’t already, head over to my resources page to grab my Gratitude Worksheets for you and your kids.
