This One Practice Changed How I See Everything
What started as a simple morning habit turned into one of the most powerful tools I’ve found for healing, presence, and peace. No fluff - just a practice that actually works.
"It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.”
I didn’t expect gratitude to change my life. It felt too simple.
But something shifted, not just in how I felt, but in how I saw everything around me.
Today I’m sharing the what, the why, the when, and the how of this practice, plus a guided meditation and journal prompts if you want to try it too.
Gratitude has been at the heart of everything for me this week. Not just as a feel-good practice, but as a life-altering one.
It’s easy to dismiss it as something soft or simplistic, but what I’ve found is that cultivating gratitude, really sitting with it, is one of the most powerful tools I’ve found for healing and changing how I experience life.
Whether you're facing something difficult or simply feeling a bit stuck, gratitude has this wonderful ability to bring you back to what matters.
It's not about ignoring challenges or pretending everything’s fine.
It’s about choosing, moment by moment, to notice what is working, what is beautiful, what is already here.
The What
Gratitude is more than writing a quick list of things you’re thankful for.
It’s a shift in awareness.
A way of looking at life that moves you out of fear, anxiety, or lack, and into presence, enoughness, and peace.
It’s available to all of us, at any time, no matter what’s going on externally.
The Why
Science backs this up. Gratitude has been shown to
lower stress hormones
improve sleep
reduce depression and anxiety
and even strengthen relationships
According to research by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, practising gratitude changes the brain, it boosts dopamine and serotonin, and trains your mind to see more of the good.
And here's something I find particularly powerful: neuroscientists say we cannot hold a truly positive and truly negative thought at the same time.
That means when we consciously choose gratitude, we’re not just thinking better thoughts, we’re crowding out the negative ones.
The When
Anytime, really. But I’ve found the start or end of the day is especially grounding.
I often begin my morning by writing a few things I’m grateful for, not just what I already have, but what I’m calling in too.
There’s something very powerful about thanking the universe in advance.
The How: Practical Support Inside the Toolkit
If you’re wondering how to actually make gratitude a daily, practical habit, not just something you mean to do, but something that truly shifts your inner world, that’s where The Rebuild Compass Toolkit comes in. This is where I share the tools that helped me rebuild my life: ebooks, journal prompts, programs, courses and more.
Later this week, I’m sharing a powerful gratitude ritual inside the Toolkit that’s simple, proven, and easy to stick with.
You’ll also find a downloadable PDF guide with prompts, exercises, and a 3-step morning practice to start rewiring your mindset right away.
If you're not already subscribed, I’m offering a free 30-day trial to anyone who leaves a comment or messages me directly, just let me know you’re interested.
Because the truth is: knowing the what, why, and when is helpful. But lasting change only comes when we consistently practice the how.
You can explore the Toolkit here: The Rebuild Compass Toolkit
A Meditation That Helps
I’ve recorded a guided meditation specifically for this: Gratitude Meditation
It’s a peaceful way to shift into appreciation, calm the nervous system, and reconnect with what matters. I use it regularly when I feel a bit disconnected or overwhelmed.
Nourishing the Body
Our bodies respond to gratitude. When we shift our emotional state, we lower cortisol levels and improve digestion and immunity. One way I practice this is by choosing foods that honour my body, not just feed it.
This week, I’ve been gently returning to home-cooked meals after a busy couple of months. Whole ingredients, warm comforting dishes, and slowing down enough to actually enjoy the process. (It’s all in the slowing down!)
I try to pause and give thanks before I eat, not in a ritualistic way, but in a quiet, honest one. It makes a difference.
A Book That Resonates
The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan
This beautifully written book explores how a year of living gratefully changed every part of the author’s life, her relationships, health, and work.
It’s honest, funny, and a lovely reminder that we can choose to see life through a different lens.
Chapter 2 of my book The Synergy Game is all about gratitude and the exact practices I used to get me through the hardest year of my life.
A Song That Fits
Thank You by Alanis Morissette
This one still stops me in my tracks. It’s raw and beautiful, and reminds me of how even pain can shape us in meaningful ways. It’s about turning toward life, all of it, and saying thank you anyway.
“How 'bout me enjoying the moment for once?”
“How 'bout remembering your divinity?”
Before You Go
Gratitude isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending you’re okay when you’re not.
It’s about anchoring yourself to something deeper. It’s helped me through heartbreak, uncertainty, and massive change. It’s given me peace in the middle of things that felt like chaos.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough” - Aesop
If you’re struggling, or even just feeling a bit flat, I invite you to try the meditation above. Or write out ten things you're grateful for, including some that haven’t happened yet. Try this for a week and see how you feel.
And if you like, tell me in the comments…
What’s something you’re grateful for right now - big or small?
If you want to go deeper into how gratitude can change your life, you can also revisit this podcast episode: Why and How Gratitude Can Change Your Life
Why & How Gratitude Can Change Everything
In this first episode of The Synergy Sessions, we’re talking about gratitude, what it really means and why it can change everything.
The Synergy Game is available on all book-selling websites and now in Brendon Books, an independent bookshop in Taunton UK and of course in L’Eternal Retour in Monflanquin SW France.
Once you live and breathe gratitude every moment of your day you are choosing to be fully present in the human experience and know that you’re part of the Universe’s divine plan 😇
Gratitude is foundational to happiness. A wonderful practice to return to over again. 💖