The Simple Power of Acknowledging What Matters
What if the key to a fuller, more meaningful life lies not in grand gestures but in the quiet recognition of what surrounds us? From the simplest routines to the things we often take for granted, there’s a hidden strength in noticing their presence. When we take a moment to reflect, we begin to unlock a deeper appreciation for the unseen forces that shape our days. It’s not always about what we have, but how we see it—this shift in perspective can transform the way we move through the world.
Gratitude.
A term we throw around for 5–7 days each year, tossing it at anyone or anything we’re remotely grateful for. It’s a buzzword in meditation, journaling, and breathwork practices, often framed as a way to appreciate what we already have, slow down, and reduce anxiety—or whatever purpose the person running the practice assigns to it.
I just finished 10 minutes of meditation—during which I was trying to be grateful but was STRUGGLING to do so.
…I know, you’re wildly impressed that I meditate, but trust me—it’s nothing fancy.
This practice is new to me, and I’m far from an expert. Picture me sitting awkwardly on a fancy pillow (apparently, it’s called a zafu), trying not to fidget for 10–15 minutes while listening to a guided meditation video I picked for the day. Still, I’m enjoying the process—learning how to use it to improve my daily life, reduce stress, and become a better partner, friend, teacher, and coach.
Today’s YouTube video was from Yogi Bryan. I love this guy’s stuff. His voice is relaxing enough—gentle, but not over the top. You know the kind of voice where it’s so dramatic, you almost roll your eyes? Yeah, Bryan avoids that.
This particular guided meditation was about starting the day off right. A “morning meditation,” if you will. I didn’t know it beforehand, but the theme of the session was gratitude.
As the soft flow of music and gentle wave sounds played in the background, Bryan guided us to find a comfortable breath and settle in (note: it still takes all the theatrics for me to relax—I told you, I’m new at this).
Then came the main event: a three-minute window to reflect on gratitude.
Bryan encouraged us to mentally scroll through our gratitude list, envisioning everything we’re thankful for as it came to mind. When the proverbial timer began, my mind began flipping through images of people I am grateful.
Faces of loved ones, friends, and colleagues, moving into and out of focus as if I were walking past them all, standing in line, waiting for my appreciation.
“This is great! I forgot how many people in my life I am truly grateful for.”
“I forgot”—which means, at one point, I was already grateful for these people, and this practice is simply reminding of them, and of my gratitude for them. So, am I practicing gratitude or acknowledgment?
Instead of sinking into the feeling of gratitude, I became hyper-focused on the word itself. With every repetition of “gratitude,” I found myself spiraling deeper into questions about what it really means.
So, naturally, I had to explore:
What is gratitude, really?
The dictionary defines gratitude as “the quality of being thankful.” So, gratitude is being thankful for what you have. Simple enough, but “what you have” isn’t just physical belongings. It includes your skills, relationships, circumstances, and even intangibles like freedom or safety.
This begs the question: can you be grateful for something without being thankful for it?
Take your job, for instance. You might be grateful for having one but not exactly thankful that you have to work.
Or your car—you’re probably grateful to own it, but do you feel thankful for the mundane upkeep? Probably not.
And when was the last time you simply acknowledged that you have a car?
It's not about driving it, fueling it, or replacing the tires—just the fact that you own one.
This is where my realization hit: gratitude is, at its core, about acknowledgment.
To be grateful, you have to consciously recognize the presence of something in your life. It’s about pausing to remember and appreciate its value.
And here’s the kicker: the “thing” doesn’t even need to hold personal value for you to feel gratitude. You might think the country is going to hell, yet still feel grateful for the safety and freedom it provides—especially when you consider how many people don’t have those luxuries.
Gratitude, as it turns out, is remarkably simple. You don’t need soft music or guided meditation to practice it. In fact, you already do it—often without realizing it.
Every time you recall a person, thing, or experience in your life, you’re practicing gratitude.
If you want to amplify it, just spend a little more time acknowledging what matters.
Sending your partner a love note? That’s gratitude in action.
Getting your car cleaned? You’re showing it value.
Lip-syncing to your favorite song on your morning drive? That’s gratitude, too.
In essence, gratitude is about pausing, reflecting, and acting in ways that recognize value—even if you don’t call it that.
So, give yourself a pat on the back for being so good at practicing gratitude. And now that you know how easy it is, maybe you’ll feel inspired to do it even more often.
