It’s so easy to get caught up in our own head and forget to live with gratitude for all that we have. With the craziness of COVID-19 and the holidays, it’s more important than ever to keep reminding ourselves of all the good things we have going for us. 

Looking for the good in each day, each hour, and each moment is a powerful way to stay positive. It builds resilience and helps us to frame everything that happens as an opportunity to grow rather than as an opportunity to beat ourselves up.

When it comes to the workplace, where a lot of us can get aggravated by deadlines, stressed out by an overbearing boss, or annoyed by a co-worker who isn’t pulling his/her/their weight, our co-founder Omar notes, “When things seem tough or something happens that isn’t perfect or the way you want, reflect on how lucky you are to be in a place where that is the issue. Be grateful for how you have the ability to be in a position of failure, and can learn from it. Things don’t always go well in business, but there’s always a bigger positive to outweigh the bad moment. Saying it out loud, almost as an affirmation, helps to put things in perspective.”

Gratitude is just as important to carry into your personal life. No one loves to take out the trash or clean up the inevitable spilled drinks on the couch, but Air & Anchor’s co-founder Rachel shares, “When life gets crazy or there are problems to be solved, I turn my thinking from stress to gratitude. I give thanks for having the opportunities that I do. I give gratitude that when the kids are crazy, that they are also safe, and healthy, and mine. Gratitude, I believe, can change any negative into a positive. It is probably the most powerful thing one can practice daily.”

Whether you’re at work or at home, here are a few simple ways you can keep a mindset of gratitude: 

1. Call or text a friend/relative and share something you appreciate about him/her/them.
2. Give a compliment to a random stranger (6-feet from you) in line.
3. Send a handwritten card to someone just to say you’re thinking of him/her/them.
4. Buy the coffee of the car behind you in the Dunkin’ line.
5. Look in the mirror and compliment yourself. (This can be really hard at first!)
6. Write down 5 things that happened today that made you happy. (This can be as simple as a cloudless sky when you stepped outside, or your shirt being wrinkle-free when you pull it out of the closet.)
7. Take 30 seconds to close your eyes when you’re feeling overwhelmed and focus on something that brings you joy.
8. Offer to do something helpful when you know someone is having a tough time.
9. Give a larger tip to your server or hairdresser because he/she/they did an amazing job.
10. Make a list of the ways you’ve impressed yourself lately and read it when you need a pick-me-up.

The cool thing about gratitude is it’s catchy. The more you look for the good, the more it will show up for you! You’ll find yourself not getting so pissed when that rude guy cuts you off on the highway, but instead thanking him for reminding you to slow down and enjoy the ride.