Care to Change Counseling - Practical Solutions for Positive Change

The Power of Gratitude: Finding Light When Life Feels Heavy

• Care to Change Counseling • Season 8 • Episode 45

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In this deeply personal and compassionate episode, April and Larry begin a new series exploring The Power of Gratitude. As the season of Thanksgiving approaches, they talk candidly about what it means to practice gratitude—especially when life doesn’t go as planned.

April shares vulnerably about walking through loss and grief, inviting listeners into an honest conversation about how gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is okay. Instead, it’s about choosing to notice what’s still good, even in the midst of pain. Together, they discuss how gratitude can transform perspective, renew hope, and bring a small measure of peace, one intentional moment at a time.

💬 Key Topics Discussed

  • Why gratitude matters most in hard seasons
  • The difference between toxic positivity and genuine gratitude
  • What it means to hold space for grief and gratitude at the same time
  • How our brains are wired to notice problems—and how gratitude helps reframe them
  • 7 practical ways to cultivate gratitude:
    1. Start a simple gratitude journal
    2. Express one thank-you a day
    3. Reframe challenges with a grateful perspective
    4. Practice mindfulness in everyday routines
    5. Create gratitude rituals with family, friends, or coworkers
    6. Use gratitude as a reflective tool at the end of the day or week
    7. Balance being real with being positive

🕊️ Memorable Quotes

“Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring the hard things—it’s choosing to notice what’s still good.” — April Bordeau“


Sometimes gratitude is just a whisper, a tiny awareness that reminds us we’re still held.” — April Bordeau“


Gratitude is one tool that helps make tomorrow happen.” — April Bordeau


“Even noticing the darkness means your eyes are still open. That awareness itself is a form of light.” — Larry Vinson


💡 Takeaway

If life feels heavy right now, this conversation is an invitation to pause. Breathe. Let gratitude look like giving yourself permission to rest. Healing begins not by ignoring the darkness but by noticing even the smallest glimmers of light.

🔗 Resources Mentioned