There have been too many challenges to count in 2020, and it’s easy to feel deflated, upset or downright angry if you’ve been personally impacted. Dwelling on the challenges only amplifies those feelings. On the flip side, finding reasons to be thankful gives your brain something positive to think about.

Whichever route you’re inclined to choose, give this article a read first. Although it’s important to address any challenges you’re facing with appropriate actions, it’s equally important to find gratitude. 

Look Hard, and You’ll Find Your Own Reasons to Be Thankful

Focusing on reasons to be thankful might inspire you to do more of the things that are working — and less of the things that are not. Sometimes, it takes more effort to find the good when it seems like the bad is bearing down on you at every turn.

One way to ease the task of finding reasons to be thankful is to write them down. Pull out a journal, a blank piece of paper, a white board, a scrap of paper or even the Notes app on your phone. 

First thing in the morning, write down three to five reasons to be thankful. Do the same thing right before you go to sleep. 

Make it specific to yourself. Don’t worry too much about the complexity of your reasons, either. Maybe today you’re thankful you have a warm cup of coffee next to your keyboard. Maybe tomorrow you’ll feel thankful that you and your kids are healthy. 

There’s no right or wrong way to find reasons to be thankful. Just make it a habit, and before long, your brain might just gravitate to gratitude. Here are a few suggestions to get your gratitude on — feel free to modify, delete or add to this list as it suits you. 

The Great Pivot of 2020

When the pandemic hit, you likely were blindsided — as all of us were — by the changes that happened rapidly around us. Business doors were closed, people began staying home more, and just leaving the house to find toilet paper became a challenge on its own.

As a business owner, you might have had to shift to delivery services or curbside pickup. Maybe you had to build an ecommerce platform or a new app. You may have also stepped up your social media marketing, as people around the globe turned to technology for entertainment, connection, information and online shopping.

In this article, we discuss which social media strategies to keep even when the pandemic has passed:

As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce states in its reopening guide: “The businesses that will survive and thrive are the ones that can be flexible and adaptable to consumers’ new and evolving needs. You’ll need to plan carefully and understand not only what may need to change about your business, but what new growth opportunities may exist for you in a post-pandemic world.” 

If you have successfully implemented new business processes and strategies because of the pandemic, then you’re even more prepared to go into 2021 strong. Among the reasons to be thankful in 2020, you can be glad that any weaknesses were exposed in your business. 

Forced to pivot and adapt, you made your business stronger. Now don’t quit while you’re ahead. There’s still work to do, so don’t rest on your laurels.

Appreciation for the Little Things

There may be significant challenges you’ve had to overcome this year. Perhaps you’re still dealing with them. When the challenges are big, turn to the small things to find gratitude.

If you look around, you’ll find meaning in things you may have overlooked before. Maybe it’s your own health or that of your loved ones (those are actually not small things, but easy to take for granted). 

Something as simple as cooking food at home can bring you satisfaction. (Banana bread, anyone?)

What are some of the little things you appreciate now more than ever? Your morning walk with your pup? Your neighborhood — did you get to know your neighbors a little more than you might have if you weren’t at home?

Let these little things make their way onto your daily gratitude list. In time, your list will grow longer because you’ll start looking for more and more reasons to be thankful.

Your Community

This year has included moments of unrest mixed in with moments of selflessness and bravery. Front-line workers in your own community have showed up day in and day out to take care of the community you love.

It’s not just first responders, either. Do a quick internet search, and you can find examples of selfless acts and community support around the globe.

Consider the Arkansas school district that “saved so much money from switching to solar power for their buildings, they were able to bump up their teachers’ salaries and eliminate their budget deficits.”

Or the fact that Zoom is lifting its 40-minute time limit on Thanksgiving this year to help families spend more time together, safely and virtually.

As a thank you to our customers, we will be lifting the 40-minute limit for all meetings globally from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 so your family gatherings don't get cut short. ❤️? #ZoomTogether pic.twitter.com/aubsH0tfxG

— Zoom (@Zoom) November 10, 2020

You need only look around your own business and customer base to find even more examples of community support. 

The employees who put in overtime without complaint, take extra care with their cleaning and sanitizing routine, or go the extra mile to make a customer happy.

The customers who leave a big tip, post a positive online review, or smile under their mask as they see you wiping sweat from your brow after a busy day.

They’re all there, if you look for them. And the more you look for them, the more they’ll show up for you.

You. Yes, You

If you can rise in the morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and find gratitude that you woke up that day, your day will always begin on a positive note. 

As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, we want to take a moment to tell you we’re grateful for you — our readers, our clients, our team members and everyone who makes Rallio possible. 

Now go and pay it forward, and find some reasons to be thankful of your own.