Louise’s Story – Finding Gratitude After Loss

Finding gratitude both during and after a loss has been a game-changer for me. In fact, it made such an impact that I continue to practice gratitude every single day using the wonderful Gratitude app.
After losing both parents, I realized that finding gratitude following any traumatic event does not mean I needed to face each day full of positivity and ignore the grief and emotions associated with loss.
It was about working with the feelings I had and even being grateful for those. Grief is a natural process.
Practicing gratitude during grief helped me to find a place where I could reconnect with the joys of life after loss and explore the possibilities that were open to me for rebuilding my life.
I became interested in the scientifically proven benefits of practicing gratitude, and the impact on resilience during difficult times. I often reflect on the three things I’m grateful for after loss:
#1. Grateful that I lost myself: Yes, this felt messy and uncomfortable at the time. After losing my parents, I had no idea who I was anymore or what I wanted from life. But you know what, it turns out that being lost, was a sure sign that I was well on the way to finding a different version of myself.
#2. Grateful that I lost my job: Losing my career of 13 years – the thing I thought I always wanted – helped me to realize it wasn’t really what made me happy. So losing my job after all that other loss nudged me into re-discovering my life and starting to live with purpose.
#3. Grateful I said goodbye to the things/people that didn’t serve me: Acknowledging this meant I could let go of anything that was weighing me down (including my own thoughts) or holding me back. It is because of this, I have been able to grow into a better version of myself. The version I was meant to be, not what others wanted me to be.
After discovering the Gratitude app by accident (in an app store search), I found a way that felt simple and easy to lean into gratitude on a daily basis. I loved the simplicity, accessibility, and ease of the app.
It’s lovely to see how the app is evolving as I continue to take a few moments each day to focus on all that I have – rather than complain about all the things I think I deserve or wish I had.
This remains an important part of my well-being and even though grief never completely goes away, gratitude is a reminder for myself and my clients that there is life after loss.
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Hey, it’s the team of Gratitude! We’re driven to nurture the well-being of people around the world and are grateful to see you here. Connect with us at blog@gratefulness.me 🙂

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70+ Happy Tuesday Quotes for Motivation & Joy

A very happy Tuesday to you!

Happy Tuesday!
Tuesday is the second day of the week, and for many people, it marks the halfway point to the weekend.
Whether you’re looking for a little mid-week pick-me-up or simply want to start your day off on a positive note, reading happy Tuesday quotes can be a great way to boost your mood and get into a good frame of mind.
In this post, we will explore a selection of happy Tuesday quotes that will put a smile on your face and help you make the most of your day.
Tuesday Quotes
“Tuesday is my favorite day of the week. That’s cleaning day.”
― Jim Miller
“Monday always passes and there will always be a Tuesday with a beautiful blue sky with few clouds.”
― Unknown

“Did someone order a bright and sunny day? Well…here it is. Happy Tuesday!”
― Anthony T. Hincks
“It’s TUESDAY! And since it’s CHOOSEDAY: choose to smile, choose to be happy, choose to love, choose to bless, choose to be a blessing, choose to be humble, choose to be patient,  choose to be kind… And above all Choose God to guide your life. HAPPY TUESDAY!”
― Unknown
“Happy Tuesday! You got to admit, at least it sounds better than happy Monday.” ― Unknown
“Tuesdays are a chance for a new beginning and a new perspective, so make them count.”
― Unknown
“On this Tuesday, remember that an attitude is contagious so remember to have a good one.”
― Unknown
“We never know what a week from next Tuesday is going to hold. It may be an ordinary day filled with quite regular activities and demands. Most of the time that is exactly what a week from next Tuesday will hold.”
― Matthew Rich

“Tuesday is the most sensible day of the week.”
― Emily P. Freeman
“How would your Tuesday be different if you conducted yourself with complete love and consideration?”
― Byron Pulsifer
“Tuesday is a good day, you survived Monday. And tomorrow is Wednesday, halfway through your work week!”
― Kate Summers
“Tuesdays are really just Mondays dressed in their Sunday best.”
― Unknown
“Always keep a bottle of wine in the fridge for special occasions. You know, like a Tuesday.”
― Unknown
“Good morning Tuesday! Please enter and pour out that shower of blessings into our lives, renew our spirits, our strength, our faith, and our hope.”
― Unknown
“No matter what your Tuesday is, don’t worry because Friday is on its way.”
― Anonymous
“Start your day with these words: today is going to be a good Tuesday! And this morning is going to be an awesome one.”
― Anonymous
“Don’t just dream it be it, because anything is possible. Happy Tuesday.”
― Anonymous

“Hold onto positive things that elevate your spirit and be with positive people. Happy Tuesday.”
― Tracey Edmonds
“Today is not just Tuesday, it is Transformation Tuesday. That means that success does not just come to you, you have to go out and get it. So what are you waiting for?”
― Anonymous
“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”
― James Allen
“I challenge you to let every day be a Friday. Give yourself permission to be happy every day.”
― Joel Osteen
“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.”
― Karen Kaiser Clark
“Let your courage inspire the world around you.”
― Steve Maraboli
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
― Paulo Coelho
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
― Thomas A. Edison
Tuesday Morning Quotes
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
― Bernard M. Baruch
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”
― Marilyn Monroe
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
― Maya Angelou
“Follow your heart, listen to your inner voice, stop caring about what others think.”
― Roy T. Bennett
“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.”
― Allen Ginsberg
“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”
― Coco Chanel
“Don’t compromise yourself – you’re all you have.”
― John Grisham
“To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.”
― Roy T. Bennett
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
― Lao Tzu
“I hope you realize that every day is a fresh start for you. That every sunrise is a new chapter in your life waiting to be written.”
― Juansen Dizon
“Each day is a miracle that intoxicates me. I want more. I greet every morning like a new pleasure. And yet I am keenly aware of all life’s artifices. Getting dressed, wearing make-up, laughing, having fun-isn’t all that just playing a role? Am I not more profound, carrying the burden of those twenty years when I ‘wasn’t alive’, than all those who rushed around in vain during that time?”
― Malika Oufkir
Tuesday Motivation Quotes
“He believed in himself, believed in his quixotic ambition, letting the failures of the previous day disappear as each new day dawned. Yesterday was not today. The past did not predict the future if he could learn from his mistakes.”
― Daniel Wallace
“There is no tomorrow and there was no yesterday; if you truly want to accomplish your goals you must engulf yourself in today.”
― Noel DeJesus
“Never mind those failures till yesterday. Each new day is a sequel of a wonderful life; gifted with hopes to succeed.”
― Aniruddha Sastikar
“Love is being able to view a situation without adding duality to it.”
― Alaric Hutchinson

“Happiness in your heart is directly proportional to the quality of thoughts in your mind.”
― Asma Naqi
“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”
― Jim Rohn
“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”
― Theodore Isaac Rubin
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
― Buddha
“Some days are just bad days, that’s all. You have to experience sadness to know happiness, and I remind myself that not every day is going to be a good day. That’s just the way it is!”
― Dita Von Teese
“At any moment, you have a choice that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
“True self-acceptance shows up at that moment when you realize that peace cannot co-exist with war. The moment you choose to stop being your own enemy and to love yourself instead.”
― Rebecca Ray
“Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.”
― Roy T. Bennett
“Accept who you are; and revel in it.”
― Mitch Albom
“The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages.”
― Virginia Woolf
“When someone tells me “no,” it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them.”
― Karen E. Quinones Miller
Tuesday Blessings Quotes
“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”
― J.K. Rowling
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
― Albert Camus
“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
“Anyone can hide. Facing up to things, working through them, that’s what makes you strong.”
― Sarah Dessen
“Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.”
― Ann Landers
“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength.”
― Sabaa Tahir
“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength.”
― Sabaa Tahir
Tuesday Thankful Quotes
‘To get happier, try gratitude, giving back, savoring, encouraging your optimism, and celebrating progress.’
― Jonathan Harnum
“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”
― Roy T. Bennett
“Sometimes the little things in life mean the most.”
― Ellen Hopkins
“It is always better to look at the bright side of life.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita
“The two words that will change your life are “thank you”. Like a candle that can light a thousand more without shortening its own life, appreciation is a gift that, when given, can set the whole world aglow.”
― Stacey Lee
“Display, a life full of gratitude, and remember to give thanks each day.”
― Danielle Duckery

“Spending time in nature feeling connected with the world often elicits gratitude.”
― Diana Butler Bass
“I turned my attention to gratitude and discovered that the more I cultivated a sense of appreciation for all that I had, the happier and less fearful I was.”
― M. J. Ryan
“‘Count your blessings’ is such a common expression that it has become a catchphrase. Yet it contains powerful truth and meaning: Be grateful for what you have – and for what you don’t have.”
― Robert W. Bly
“We should not measure success by bank accounts filled with money, but rather by moments filled with joy and gratitude. Pursuing your passion vigorously and relentlessly will bring you those moments.”
― Dennis Houchin
“The practice of gratitude empowers, heals, inspires, and fosters heartfelt well–being.”
― Angeles Arrien
Continue Reading: Hump Day Blues? 50+ Wednesday Quotes to Get You Through
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Aarushi Tewari
The writer and affirmations speaker at Gratitude, Aarushi believes that one of the most effective ways of feeling inner peace is by being grateful and having a loving self-relationship.

15-day New Year Challenge

Starting January 1

🌻
Begin the new year with a positive outlook
💖
Start fresh every day with a new prompt
📝
Examples to help you get ideas
⏰
Reminders to keep you on track

Start FREE Challenge
Related reads

QUOTES
6 MIN READ
60+ Summer Quotes for The Sunny Season
Bask under the warmth of this beautiful season.

QUOTES
6 MIN READ
60+ Spring Quotes to Welcome The Season of Blossoms
Rejoice in the beauty and lively feeling of spring.

QUOTES
6 MIN READ
40+ Keep Going Quotes to Help You Through Tough Times
Give yourself the support and hope you need.

Take the FREE New Year Challenge

15-day daily guided journaling

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Maybe Later
GRATITUDE

Purpose in Pain

Sometimes it can be hard to see how God could possibly use the pain of our past for good. Yet, over and over in the Bible, we see examples of God taking the darkest, most difficult situations in people’s lives and using them for His glory. 

Genesis 37-50 tells the story of Joseph whose brothers were so full of jealousy and hatred for him that they sold him into slavery. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the lies of his master’s wife landed him in jail. Like many of us, he faced overwhelming feelings of betrayal, rejection, and abandonment—but God was at work. Eventually, because of his seemingly hopeless circumstances, Joseph became Pharaoh’s second in command with the power to save his family and all of Egypt from famine and death. Looking back, Joseph is able to acknowledge that God had never left him but was quietly coordinating a miracle all along. 

Like Joseph, we all experience pain and heartache. Some of us even suffer unspeakable tragedy or inexcusable abuse. However, stories like this give us hope that, with God, we can find purpose in our pain. 

Many times, our hurts give us the opportunity to positively impact this world in a way that no one else can. I’ve heard it said that only those who’ve lost a parent can really understand what that loss feels like. It’s true. The loss of my dad still hurts today, but I can see now that it gives me the ability to speak into others’ lives and comfort them on a level that few others can. In my experience, our pain can actually lead us toward our purpose.

Maybe because of your past, you’re uniquely qualified to give someone hope for their marriage, or maybe the challenges you’re facing with your teen can help other families recognize the warning signs of self harm. Maybe because of your struggles, you can help someone through infertility, addiction, or a cancer diagnosis. Whatever your story is, there’s beauty and power in choosing to be vulnerable enough to share your testimony with others. 

If you’re currently living through a hard season, you may not be able to think about what God has for you in the future. That’s ok. At this moment, you don’t have to know how God will use your pain. Just know that He will. Let that give you hope to carry you through.

God, thank you for promising me that you won’t let all the hard things I’ve gone through in my life be for nothing. Thank you for promising to work ALL things for my good. Jesus, I give you all the dark, ugly, and imperfect pieces of my past and trust that you’ll turn them into something beautiful. Bring me healing and show me how to use my past for your purposes. Fill me with hope and confidence in you. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Gifts from God

Have you ever stopped to consider how all the pieces of your life fit together? Whether you realize it or not, God put certain things in your path and gave you opportunities to strengthen different skills, so that He could prepare you for your purpose. 

As a 30-year-old woman, I remember thinking back on my cheerleading years and wondering how it connected to my adult life. For 13 years, from kindergarten through my senior year of high school, I cheered for my school and led pep rallies. As an adult, I couldn’t see the reason God had for giving me those experiences. 

Not long after that, I went to a conference where I heard women speak passionately about leading others to Christ. I thought to myself, “I want to do that someday.” Right then, God connected the dots for me. Because of cheerleading, I’m comfortable in front of large crowds and able to hold their attention. In all those years, God had been preparing me for the role He created for me.

Every one of your life experiences makes you uniquely you. Consider the natural talents God has given you, the different opportunities you’ve had, and the skills you’ve acquired. Think about where you grew up, where you’ve traveled, what you’ve learned. Maybe you understand different cultures and can relate to people around the world, or maybe you create art that inspires and moves people to action. The various experiences you’ve had in your life may seem irrelevant on their own, but together, they’re leading you toward something meaningful that you can use to glorify God. 

We see this in the book of Esther, which tells the story of a Jewish woman who is in the unique position to save her people from mass genocide. Even as the wife and queen of the Persian King, she didn’t see herself as special or more important to God’s plan than anyone else. She was just doing her best to survive. But because of who she was, where she lived, the time she lived in, who she had influence with, and the wisdom God gave her, He used her to save the Israelites from death.

There’s no question that God has given you skills, talents, education, financial power, status, or influence that is special to you. The question is how you will use it. You don’t have to be in full-time ministry to do God’s work. You can work for God in business or in the home, with many or with few. Most of us won’t be famous someday, but we all have circles of influence and unique gifts that those in our circle of influence need. Ask God to reveal how these things equip you for His purpose.

God, thank you for everything you’ve given me and for every opportunity you’ve placed in my path. Show me all the strengths, characteristics, learnings, influence, and provisions you’ve given me that are unique to me. Reveal how they all come together to point to your purpose for my life. I want to use the things in my past for your Kingdom. Help me bring glory and honor to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Created for Purpose

Each of us was born to fulfill a specific purpose in this world. Even though we might not choose to acknowledge it, or have it figured out yet, God designed every single person with an incredibly unique combination of gifts that He wants to use to grow His Church. Thankfully, God has placed clues in our hearts and, through the Holy Spirit, guides us to discover our purpose.

As children, we have such big imaginations. We create characters and whole worlds where we see ourselves as capable of anything. The sky’s the limit! We haven’t learned what to fear or been told we can’t. We’re not yet confined by life’s harsh realities or worried about status. We’re confident in who we are and free to play out our dreams.

I can remember playing in the front yard in my superhero pajamas with the matching top and bottom. I was Wonder Woman, rescuing the world from danger! I’d stand guard on the porch with my hands on my hips, and at the first sign of trouble, I would jump in to save the day. Even after playing all day long, I wouldn’t get tired of it.

When I got older, I wondered why I’d had that particular desire when I was little. It became clear to me that even as a child, I wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves. As a pastor, that’s exactly what I get to do today. I work tirelessly to rescue people from the gates of hell by leading them to The Rescuer. I know God put me on this earth to help save people. He put that desire in me from the beginning.

Maybe you didn’t want to be a superhero. Instead, you followed a nightly bedtime routine for all your dolls, or set up a class of stuffed animals to teach. Maybe you pretended to heal the sick, report the news, or explore new worlds. Whatever dreams you had as a child, they weren’t in your heart by coincidence. God placed them there for a purpose. Even though the world may have convinced you to dismiss them as imaginary, they’re still there—woven into the fabric of who He made you to be.

If you’re unsure of God’s purpose for you, look at what you’ve dreamed. Consider the things that draw you to tears, pull on your heart strings, get you fired up, and bring you to a righteous anger. He put those things in you, uniquely creating you for a purpose that only you can fulfill. 

God, thank you for creating me with a specific purpose in mind. Thank you for believing in me and giving me exactly what I need to fulfill your calling on my life. Reveal to me the passions, hopes, and desires you’ve placed in my heart, and clearly show me how to use them for your Kingdom Lord. Help me to live in your will and bring you glory with everything I say and do. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

Straight Paths

Living out our purpose means living in surrender to God. When we surrender to His will, it doesn’t mean that we’re supposed to sit back and do nothing. It means we continually seek Him as we move forward. The Bible promises us that He will make our paths straight, but for Him to direct our steps, we have to keep taking them.

Years ago, God gave me the vision and desire to start a ministry that would help women of all ages learn how to firmly root their identity in Christ. At the time, I had no idea how to execute a dream that big. Of course, I understood it wouldn’t happen overnight, but I didn’t even know where to start! We would need a location, a skilled team, financing, signed contracts, and legal consulting, just to name a few. Instead of getting overwhelmed, I decided to seize the opportunities God placed in my path and trust Him with the outcome. After a few years, we held our first retreat. I know it wouldn’t have happened without my obedience to take that first step and my surrender to His will every step of the way.

It pleases God when we seek Him in our decision making. Even when I’ve made a wrong turn, I’ve seen Him turn my path and bring me back to where He wants me. There have been times when it was clear to me that He made a way, and times He closed a door. I believe that He is working it all out because He knows my heart is to serve Him. If we acknowledge Him in every moment, surrender our future, and try to make decisions that honor Him, His purpose for our lives will become clear.

Even though you might not be sure of the final destination, ask yourself what step you feel God is leading you to take right now. If you’re good with kids, you might try serving in your kids’ ministry at church. If you’re good at organizing, maybe you’d enjoy helping your local clothes closet take in new items and keep things orderly. If you can’t yet discern where God is leading you, start inviting people to church. As Christ followers, we’re all called to bring more people with us into eternity.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others” (TPT). In other words, just start putting your talents to good use and pouring yourself out in service of His Kingdom. Taking an uncertain step in honor of God, is better than doing nothing. Don’t let the fear of making the wrong step keep you from moving forward. He is trustworthy to create something extraordinary from your offering. 

God, thank you for including me in your master plan. I know you have a vision for my life, and I trust you to direct my steps toward the purpose you planned for me. Help me continue to process what I’ve started through this plan. Help me to see myself through your lens of truth. Show me what I’m passionate about, what I’m good at, what I’ve overcome, where you’re leading me, and how the sum of those pieces uniquely qualify me to do your work. Continue refining me so I’m prepared to serve in the role you’ve carved out for me. All I want to do is to honor you with my whole life. Guide me and make my path straight. In Jesus’ most powerful and precious name, amen. 

We pray God used this plan to minister to your heart.
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