How Being Thankful For Others Boosts Happiness
Mental health benefits of expressing gratitude
When you’re running on empty, it’s easier to count the annoyances than the blessings—what wasn’t done, what wasn’t said, what felt like too much. That’s survival mode. But something shifts when you take a breath and really see the people around you. There are small, steady acts of care: a kind word, a task quietly handled, a moment of support when you needed it most.
Noticing those things—and letting yourself feel thankful for them—can be a quiet way back to yourself. Showing appreciation for others can actually lift your mood and strengthen your emotional resilience.
And if you’re feeling stretched thin, don’t forget to grab the free Burnout Recovery Journal for Moms—it’s full of simple, grounding prompts to help you reconnect with what matters most.
In this article:
What is something I appreciate about my partner, friend, or family member today?
How to Find Appreciation When You’re Drowning in the Day-to-Day
🔹 Reframe What “Support” Looks Like
🔹 Don’t Wait for Big Gestures
🔹 Say It Out Loud (Even If It Feels Awkward)
🔹 Appreciation as a Form of Self-Preservation
What If You Can’t Think of Anything?
A Way to Improve Mental Health Naturally
What is something I appreciate about my partner, friend, or family member today?
Some days, it feels like the whole household is conspiring against my sanity—especially the toddler. Last night was one of those disasters in slow motion:
Our son refused to sleep.
He demanded one sippy cup of milk after another like a tiny tyrant.
And then he peed through his diaper and soaked the bed.
After that, he stayed awake for two hours, flopping around while I stared at the ceiling, trying not to scream. He finally passed out about an hour before we had to wake up. I was angry, sad, and irrational from lack of sleep.
This morning, I launched into a full-on meltdown; the kind of sleep-deprived monologue that deserves dramatic lighting and a slow zoom. I needed someone to bear witness and let me rant: “Can you believe this shit?”
He didn’t interrupt. Didn’t offer tips on how bedtime could’ve gone smoother. And that’s exactly what I needed. Not a fixer, not a strategist. Just played the role of “emotionally available spouse” while I emotionally unravel. His presence made the fallout feel a little less lonely, like maybe I wasn’t totally off the rails after all.
How to Find Appreciation When You’re Drowning in the Day-to-Day
You don’t have to fake gratitude, and you don’t have to ignore the imbalance of uneven partnership or the stress of raising a child. It’s about zooming in on a gesture, a habit, even just one sentence that helped lighten your load, even if only for a moment.
Appreciation doesn’t mean settling. It means acknowledging the good in the midst of the hard, so the hard doesn’t consume you.
🔹 Reframe What “Support” Looks Like
Support doesn’t always mean sharing the to-do list evenly. Even though many modern fathers ignore the invisible load, look for the labor they do.
Emotional presence matters—someone sitting with you while you fall apart counts.
Silent support (like not criticizing your parenting decisions) is still support.
Just because it’s not your style of help doesn’t mean it’s worthless.
Look for consistency over flashiness—who shows up, quietly, again and again?
Recognition makes space for nuance.
🔹 Don’t Wait for Big Gestures
The little things often hold more weight than grand plans that never happen.
A check-in text that says “How are you, really?”
Remembering something you mentioned offhand and bringing it up later.
A shared laugh in the middle of a stressful moment.
Someone noticing you’re struggling without making you explain it.
Noticing these tiny anchors can shift your emotional climate more than waiting for a dramatic rescue.
🔹 Say It Out Loud (Even If It Feels Awkward)
Appreciation builds connection, not just warm fuzzies. If you want more of the good stuff, say something.
“Thanks for just listening without jumping in to fix it.”
“It helped so much when you took over bedtime yesterday.”
“You didn’t make me feel crazy for crying this morning—thank you.”
The more specific you are, the more likely they’ll do it again (without being asked). It’s not performative; it’s connective. It also gently models the emotional fluency you wish you saw more of.
🔹 Appreciation as a Form of Self-Preservation
This isn’t about people-pleasing. This is about protecting your own emotional health.
Gratitude can soften your nervous system and give your brain a break.
Bitterness builds fast in burnout—appreciation keeps it from taking root.
When you name the good, you give yourself proof that not everything is falling apart.
You don’t need to feel grateful all the time. One moment is enough.
What If You Can’t Think of Anything?
Some days, no one feels worth appreciating. Maybe your partner is checked out, your parents are critical, and your friends are MIA or just in their own mess. If your brain draws a blank when asked what you appreciate about someone else, that’s information. It might mean you’ve been running on empty too long without enough support.
Instead of forcing yourself to find a silver lining, try flipping the script:
What is something you did today that no one saw but took effort?
What’s one small act of care you gave to your kid, your home, your future self?
What do you wish someone would say to you right now?
You are someone to appreciate. Self-appreciation is a survival skill when the village is missing or asleep on the job.
A Way to Improve Mental Health Naturally
Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard stuff, but it does make more room for joy, connection, and perspective. When you start noticing the good in others, you often start feeling a little better yourself. That’s not about toxic positivity. It’s balance, and giving your brain a break from constantly scanning for what’s wrong.
If you’re in a season where burnout feels close to the surface, the Burnout Recovery Journal for Moms can help. It’s a free, printable tool designed to give you small, manageable ways to reflect, reset, and reconnect—even on the hard days. Grab your copy and start reclaiming a little peace of mind, one page at a time.
