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"No Bad Days": How gratitude shapes everything

Gratitude is a mindset, a skill, and a virtue... and it can change the way we see our lives.

The Rise Team

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Our 2026 Rise mantra is “No Bad Days”. In case you missed it, here’s a blog post explaining more about the motto.

Over the last 8 months, we’ve touched on the topic of gratitude quite a bit in these “No Bad Days” reflections. This month, however, we’ll be really honing in on gratitude, how it’s related to this year’s motto, and how to work on developing the virtue of gratitude in your own life.

“Having an attitude of gratitude” may sound elementary to many of us as it is something we probably taught to our children when they were whining about something. But is gratitude something that truly lives in our own hearts? Take a few moments to seriously and honestly ponder that. Do you approach the circumstances in your life - even hard ones - with gratitude?

Here’s one example that comes to mind that you almost assuredly have experienced: Interruptions. When you are interrupted by someone needing you - a child, a coworker, a friend asking you for a favor - what is your reaction? What about an interruption like a neighbor knocking on the door or an unexpected visitor who came by at an inopportune time? What is your reaction then? Are you truly grateful for the relationships and the people in your life? To have people who depend on you, who need you, who love you, or who want to be with you? What about your health and your body? Your home, car, clothing, and food? Your clean running water and access to healthcare? Even for the way you have grown in the midst of challenging life circumstances? The list can go on and on, but if you noticed yourself hesitating when reading through these questions… it may be worth reflecting on a bit more. Many neurochemical functions seem to activate when the brain experiences gratitude. Our production of dopamine and serotonin increases, stress hormones regulate, which reduces fear and anxiety, and cognitive restructuring occurs. The Mindfulness Awareness Research Center of UCLA states that gratitude changes the neural structures in the brain, and makes us feel happier and more content. It’s not surprising that practicing gratitude is a key component of living out our 2026 motto of “No Bad Days". But being grateful can be harder than it sounds, especially when we’re in the throes of a challenging season of life. Luckily, gratitude is something we can intentionally practice. Here’s how:

  • You’ve heard it a million times before, but keeping a gratitude journal really is helpful in cultivating a mindset of gratitude. Plus, it is super fun to be able to look back on previous journal entries from past months and years.

  • Think of gratitude like a muscle: The more you practice noticing the good, the easier it will become. This is not the same as ignoring the hard things or pretending like there’s nothing wrong. It’s about becoming more intentionally aware of where you’re focusing your energy on. Here’s a quick exercise to strengthen your gratitude muscle:

    • While you’re brushing your teeth, think through these questions. If you’re brushing your teeth properly, you’ll only spend 2 minutes doing the exercise.

      • What is one thing I am grateful for today?

      • Who is one person I am grateful for and why?

      • What is one small thing that I could do to make today even better (call a friend, go on a walk, etc.)

At the end of the day, gratitude is a mindset. And the only person in control of your mindset is you. Work hard today to notice the good in your day, and notice how it can transform the way you view yourself, others, and your circumstances. Our minds are extremely powerful. We are grateful for each of you!