Carrying Gratitude Into Your Next Season: Notice the Good Things, Big and Small

I feel like sometimes we get so caught up in what is next that we forget to appreciate what is happening right now.

We are thinking about the next goal, the next thing we need to fix, what we wish was different, or how far we still have to go. Before we know it, so much time has passed without us really noticing the good things that were happening along the way.

That is why I want to talk about gratitude.

And when I say gratitude, I do not mean pretending everything in your life is perfect or forcing yourself to be positive when you are having a hard time. I think sometimes gratitude gets watered down to simply saying, "I'm thankful," but it can be so much deeper than that.

Gratitude is learning to recognize what is still good, even when everything is not good.

It is appreciating the people who show up for you. Recognizing your own growth.

Enjoying the small moments that make your day a little better. It is being able to look at your life and realize that while there may still be things you are working toward, there are also things around you right now that you once hoped and prayed for.

Sometimes, we just have to slow down long enough to notice them.

Why Gratitude Matters

"Notice the good things, big and small."

Think about how many good moments we probably overlook in one day.

Maybe you woke up feeling rested. Someone sent you a text just to check on you. You laughed really hard with a friend. You finally finished something that had been stressing you out. You ate one of your favorite meals. You had a quiet moment to yourself after a long day.

None of these things may feel life-changing in the moment, but they are still parts of your life worth appreciating.

When we are constantly focused on what is missing, it becomes very easy to convince ourselves that we do not have enough, we are not doing enough, or our lives are not moving fast enough. Gratitude helps bring us back to what is actually in front of us.

Research has shown that practicing gratitude can support emotional well-being, reduce stress, and help strengthen resilience. But even outside of the research, I think many of us can feel the difference when we intentionally focus on what is going right instead of only replaying everything that is going wrong.

This does not mean ignoring your problems.

You are allowed to be frustrated and grateful. You can be going through a difficult season and still experience joy. You can want more for yourself while appreciating how far you have already come.

Two things can be true at the same time.

And for so many of us, especially as young women, there is always pressure to be doing more. We are constantly seeing what everyone else is accomplishing, buying, wearing, or experiencing. It can make your own life feel behind when, in reality, you may just need to look at it from a different perspective.

Sometimes gratitude is simply reminding yourself, I have come a long way too.

Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude

You do not need to create a complicated morning routine or buy a new journal just to practice gratitude. Start with what you already have and where you are right now.

Ask yourself what was good about today. At the end of your day, think of three things that made your day a little better. They do not have to be major moments. Maybe you had a good conversation, got through something difficult, or simply had a moment where you felt at peace.

Write it down. I will always encourage journaling because there is something different about seeing your thoughts on paper. Keep a small gratitude list in your journal or even in the Notes app on your phone. On harder days, go back and read through it.

Tell people you appreciate them. If someone has been there for you, tell them. If a friend made you laugh when you needed it, send the text. If you are grateful for something your parent, sibling, partner, teacher, or mentor has done, let them know. We often think nice things about people and never actually say them.

Pay attention to your normal life. Your favorite song playing in the car. Sitting in your room after a long day. Your pet being excited to see you. Laughing until your stomach hurts. The first bite of food when you are really hungry. A good hair day. A quiet morning. These moments count too.

Look for what a season is teaching you. I know this one can be difficult, especially when you are in the middle of something you do not understand. You do not have to be grateful for every bad thing that happens to you. But sometimes, with time, you can appreciate what you learned about yourself, the boundaries you created, the strength you found, or the direction the experience pushed you toward.

Gratitude Is Something You Practice

I do not think anyone wakes up one day and suddenly becomes a perfectly grateful person, it takes practice. There will still be days when you complain. Days when you compare your life to someone else's. Days when the good things feel harder to see.

The goal is not perfection, the goal is to become more aware. The more you intentionally notice the good in your life, the easier it becomes to recognize it. You start realizing that joy is not always hiding in huge milestones or major accomplishments. Sometimes, it is sitting in the middle of a completely normal Tuesday.

And I think there is something really beautiful about learning to appreciate your life while you are still building it.

A Moment of Reflection

Take a little time to think about these questions:

What simple joys have I overlooked lately?

Who in my life deserves to know that I appreciate them?

Am I so focused on what I want next that I have forgotten to appreciate what I have now?

What is one part of my life today that a younger version of me would be proud of or excited about?

You do not have to force an answer. Just be honest with yourself.

This is about paying attention.

Because there may be more good around you than you realize.

Your Action Step

If you have Her Blooming Season, spend some time in the Gratitude pillar chapter.

In this chapter, we talk more about what gratitude really means, why it matters, and my own experience with learning how to recognize the good in my life, even during seasons when I felt overwhelmed.

Take your time with the affirmations and journal prompts. Do not rush through the chapter just to say you completed it. Give yourself the space to actually think about your answers and what gratitude currently looks like in your own life.

Before you start the chapter, flip to the back of your book and find your Wheel of Becoming. If you do not have the book, you can also create your own personal version.

Rate yourself in the area of Gratitude from 1 to 10.

1 means: I am just beginning to work on this area.10 means: I feel strong and confident in this area.

Be honest with your number. This is not a test, and no one else needs to see your answer.

After you finish the Gratitude chapter, come back to your Wheel of Becoming and rate yourself again.

Did your number change?

Did you notice something about yourself that you had not considered before?

Did your definition of gratitude shift?

That is the purpose of this journey. It is not about becoming a completely different person overnight. It is about becoming more aware of yourself and intentionally working on the areas where you want to grow.

And if you want to continue walking through each pillar with me, join me on YouTube @BlossomWithZara, where I share encouragement and real conversations around our Blossom pillars. You can also stay connected with me on Instagram @BlossomWithZara and be part of our community as we go through this journey together.

You do not have to grow alone. I want you to start noticing the good things. The big things. The small things. The things you normally overlook because they have become so familiar.

Your life does not have to be perfect for there to be something worth appreciating.

Sometimes, you just have to notice it.