The Power of Gratitude: Finding Presence, Peace and Perspective

As the year winds down and the holiday season draws near, many of us naturally find ourselves reflecting on what we’ve experienced, what we’ve learned, and who has stood beside us through it all. It’s a time for family, slower mornings, and soft moments that remind us how much there is to be grateful for.

In this week’s episode of the Nitty Gritty to Balance podcast, Abegail and Staci dive deep into the twin forces of gratitude and forgiveness, two practices they believe are inseparable. Gratitude, they say, is the embodiment of feminine energy: gentle, nurturing, and heart-led. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is masculine: active, deliberate, and strong. Together, they balance the doing and the being, the action and the feeling.

Gratitude as a State of Being Gratitude, at its core, is awareness. It’s not something we chase; it’s something we embody. Abegail describes gratitude as “a state of being,” a feeling that doesn’t necessarily need an action attached to it. It’s that quiet expansion in the chest, a warmth that spreads from the heart outward

For her, the purest moments of gratitude often arise while watching her daughter play, completely unaware that she’s being observed. In those still moments, she feels her heart swell “almost like it could burst.” Gratitude, she reminds us, is not always loud or performative; often it’s wordless, a silent awe for the beauty that already exists around us

Staci adds that for her, gratitude shows up in unexpected places like in the shower. “I think it’s something about the water,” she says, laughing. Looking out her window at the trees and pasture, she often feels an overwhelming appreciation for the life she’s built. It’s a quiet ritual, one that keeps her grounded in the present.

Gratitude as Conscious Creation

While gratitude can arise spontaneously, the hosts emphasize that it can also be created. We don’t have to wait for joy or comfort to appear before we feel grateful. “Gratitude doesn’t have to be a reaction,” Abegail says. “It’s something you can co-create with life.”

Maybe it’s a car ride with the sunroof open, music playing, and sunlight streaming through the trees. Maybe it’s a warm shower, a conversation with a loved one, or a few mindful breaths before bed. By intentionally seeking these moments, we strengthen our “gratitude muscle,” training our minds and bodies to recognize abundance even in the ordinary.

Gratitude in the Hard Moments

Both hosts agree: true gratitude isn’t only about the good times. It’s about finding appreciation even in pain, even in discomfort. Staci laughs as she mentions getting a bug bite or stepping on ants: “Even finding gratitude in that discomfort can be huge.”

It’s in those moments of challenge that gratitude deepens. When we can look at our struggles and say, thank you for showing me what I needed to learn, we transform pain into wisdom. Abegail notes that the ability to feel gratitude during hardship helps us move through difficult emotions instead of getting stuck in them. It’s not about denying the pain, it's about widening our perspective to include appreciation.

Presence: The Gateway to Gratitude

The first key to living with gratitude, they say, is presence. “It’s that pause,” Staci explains. “That in-between space where you stop, reflect, and see things differently.”

We live in a world that glorifies busyness. Conversations happen half-heartedly, our minds already racing toward what we’ll say next. Gratitude asks us to slow down to notice the texture of our moments instead of rushing through them. When we pause, we create space for appreciation to enter.

Shifting from Lack to Abundance

As the hosts note, “Food is love” for many families. Understanding that perspective can help you approach holiday meals with compassion both for yourself and for others who express love through cooking and sharing.

The second key is appreciation, which requires shifting from a lack mindset (“I don’t have…”) to an abundant one (“I already have…”). It’s easy to fall into comparison, especially during the holidays when consumer culture is at its loudest. But gratitude invites us to look closer to notice the people, comforts, and experiences that already enrich our lives.

Abegail admits that she’s still “untangling” herself from the trap of comparison. But with awareness, she’s learning to reframe her thoughts, moving from “I wish I had” to “I’m thankful for.” The difference, she says, is transformative.

From Emotion to Action

Gratitude naturally inspires action. Thanksgiving and Christmas mirror this balance beautifully: one focused on reflection and togetherness, the other on giving and expression. “They go hand in hand,” Abegail says.

Still, both women agree that the modern idea of gift-giving has lost some of its heart. “I don’t want to just buy a thing,” Abegail says. “I want to give something that reflects how I see that person, something that ties us together.”

Her approach to the holidays is intentional. She shops early not out of pressure, but so she can enjoy December with a full heart. “When I’m thinking about who I’m shopping for, I start thinking about what I love about them,” she says. “That’s what gratitude is, it’s connection.”

Gratitude as Daily Practice

Ultimately, gratitude is a practice, one that begins within. Staci shares that she used to reflect on her gratitude each night before bed, a ritual that soon carried over into her mornings. “When I went to sleep in gratitude, I woke up in gratitude,” she says. That simple shift changed the tone of her days.

The more we practice, the more natural gratitude becomes. It starts showing up in small moments with a smile from a stranger, sunlight through the window, a deep breath before a busy day. “Your nervous system starts to recognize it,” Abegail says. “It becomes automatic.”

A Gentle Invitation

As the episode closes, the hosts offer their listeners a few journal prompts:

• What in my home makes me feel safe and nurtured?

• What part of my day am I most thankful for?

• Who or what inspires me to keep growing?

  
  

These simple reflections remind us that gratitude isn’t something we have to find, it's something we remember. It already lives within us, waiting for space to be felt.

So as you move through this season whether you’re surrounded by loved ones or spending quiet time alone, pause. Breathe. Look around. Let gratitude fill your heart, not as an obligation, but as a gentle state of being.

Because when we live with gratitude, every moment, no matter how ordinary, becomes sacred.

If you're craving more presence, peace, and perspective this season…

Ready to bring more presence, peace, and perspective into your everyday life?

Let this be your reminder that gratitude isn’t something you chase it’s something you come home to. Whether you’re moving through joy, challenge, or the quiet in-between moments, there’s always something waiting to be noticed, felt, and appreciated.

Tune into The Nitty Gritty to Balance – EP: 21 Where Can Gratitude Be Found? and let Abegail and Staci guide you back to the beauty that’s already here.