Memorable Quotes:
- “Hope and joy feel so out of reach sometimes. But gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything’s fine or ignoring your pain. It can be both/and.”
- “Your brain already has a VIP list of everything that sucks. Gratitude reminds it, ‘Hey, there’s still some beauty here, too.’”
- “Living with a chronic illness is no joke—but you don’t have to walk through it without joy.”
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Transcription
Today we’re talking about something that might sound a little cheesy at first… but I promise, it’s not. It’s one of the most powerful tools I’ve used to find hope and joy on the hard days: gratitude.
Hope and joy feel so out of reach sometimes. We’ve all had really bad days with our chronic illness. On those days it’s hard for me to see any good. I feel miserable, I hurt everywhere, I’m beyond exhausted, and joy is the last thing I can think of.
But here’s the thing, gratitude doesn’t mean pretending everything’s fine or ignoring your pain. It can be both/and. I can be in pain physically and find something in my day to be grateful for. It can be a day where I am barely awake and can’t move much, but I can be grateful for the ability to remember to take my meds and making it through a 30 min. tv show that made me laugh. Or maybe I was able to get up and move to the couch, but it was all I was able to do, I can be thankful I made it to the couch making me somewhat able to be around my family.
Now, I’m not about to throw a bunch of science terms at you—this is not a neuroscience podcast, promise. But it is kind of cool to know that gratitude actually rewires your brain. Like, real changes happen up there.
When you practice gratitude regularly—whether that’s journaling it, saying it out loud, or just mentally noting it—it literally helps your brain start scanning for the good stuff instead of only focusing on the hard stuff. And let’s be real: when you’re living with a chronic illness, your brain already has a VIP list of all the things that suck. Pain. Fatigue. Doctor appointments. Weird symptoms. You don’t have to train it to notice those—it’s already a pro at that.
But gratitude shifts your focus. It reminds your brain, “Hey, there’s still some beauty here, too.” It helps calm anxiety, builds resilience, and just gives your nervous system a little breathing room. It’s like handing your brain a soft blanket instead of another fire alarm.
And no—this isn’t about ignoring your illness or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about making space for both: the pain and the good. The grief and the gratitude. That’s where real healing begins—not in pretending, but in gently noticing that joy can exist right alongside the mess.
So what does that look like in real life? It can look like being grateful you have clean pajamas, that your heating pad didn’t die on you, or that a friend texted you and made you laugh. Want to know how I practice gratitude? I have a small monthly calendar that I write a few keywords in each day. Some days that is easier than others, but I always try to find at lease one thing.
Have you ever bought a new car, and suddenly you see that exact car everywhere you go? Or maybe you snag a cute new dress, and the next time you’re out, some other lady’s rocking the same one? It’s not magic—it’s your brain. Once you start noticing something, your brain tunes in and starts spotting it all over the place.
Gratitude works the same way. When you start intentionally noticing the good—even if it’s just one tiny thing a day—your brain begins to shift. Over time, you start noticing the good more often. It doesn’t erase the hard stuff, but it does give your mind something softer to land on. And honestly? That can make a huge difference in your mental health, your outlook, and how you move through the messier days. It’s not about being positive all the time—it’s about giving your heart a little light when everything feels dark.
Alright friend, that’s it for today. I hope this gave you a little hope and a reminder that you’re not alone in this. Living with a chronic illness is no joke—but you don’t have to walk through it without joy.
Your pain is real. But joy is still possible—even here, even now, even in the middle of the hard.
If this episode spoke to you, would you do me a quick favor? Hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss future episodes, and leave a review—it helps other women who need this kind of encouragement find their way here too.
And don’t forget to join The Unseen Sisterhood, my weekly email filled with real talk, encouragement, and connection for women living with chronic illness. You are so welcome there.
Until next time—take care of that beautiful body of yours, rest when you need to, and keep looking for those tiny glimmers of joy. They’re out there. 💛
