How Gratitude Shifts Perspective

We know that practicing gratitude is good for our well-being. It can improve our mood, buffer the impact of stress, and reduce the weight of negative emotions.

But gratitude does more than steer us toward positive thinking. It helps us take stock of our life, our experiences, and our strengths.

It’s a way of seeing the whole picture — not just the moments that feel good, but also the challenges, the progress, and the things that are still holding.

Psychologists call this the broaden-and-build effect. When we’re stressed, our focus narrows to the problem or whatever feels most urgent. Gratitude doesn’t erase those things, but it widens our perspective so we can see the difficulty alongside the resources that remain.

It might sound like:

• This week was exhausting. And I still showed up for what mattered.

• The conversation was hard. And it brought more clarity.

• I wish I were further ahead. And I’m not where I started.

In mindfulness and therapy traditions, gratitude isn’t about ignoring what’s painful. It’s about noticing what’s holding you up while you carry it.

For me, it’s less about silver linings and more about an getting an honest inventory and seeing the full scope of what’s here right now.

Try this:​
Think about something that feels hard at the moment.
Then ask yourself: What else is true alongside it?