We can be thankful and grateful for small positives in our lives — an act of kindness, a happy moment, or something that makes your day a little easier. We can even be grateful for the silver lining that comes with difficulties.

A challenge might help you discover a strength. A mistake may teach you something useful. Not knowing an answer gives you an opportunity to learn.

The Be Thankful poem, by an anonymous author, encourages this broader view of gratitude. You don’t have to like everything that happens to appreciate something you gain along the way.

Enjoy the poem and other gratitude quotes below. You might find a line that speaks to your life today or lifts you up in the future, or one to share with someone who could use a little encouragement.

At the end of the post, I introduce you to my workbooks and journals that can help you put the ideas of the poem into action. 

Gratitude Quotes With Similar Themes

Gratitude isn't about denying difficulties. And it shouldn't be saved for times when everything is going well or big happy events. 

We can have gratitude in the midst of challenges. The thankfulness can be for parts of our life that are running simultaneously with difficulties, and sometimes, even for the challenges themselves.  

The Be Thankful poem is based on those gratitude concepts. Before we get to the poem, here are a few short quotes from others with similar ideas.

“A wild heart can beat with gratitude and lean into pure joy without denying the struggle in the world.” — Brené Brown

“Perspective helps us to remember that beauty and heartache coexist, as do grief and gratitude, joy and sadness.” — Kristi Nelson

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” —William Arthur Ward

You might also like these posts:

🟢 ➜ How to Practice Gratitude: 15 Simple Gratitude Activities

🟢 ➜ 75 Journal Prompts to Help You Practice the Attitude of Gratitude

The Be Thankful Poem

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

🟢 ➜ For more inspiration for difficult times: 100 Deep Meaningful Quotes About Life for Difficult Days & Challenges

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

🟢 ➜ For inspiration, practical tips, and worksheets for getting better about mistakes:  36 Learning from Mistakes Quotes and Help Reframing Mistakes With CBT

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

The Whole Be Thankful Poem

Growing Your Gratitude Resources

Several of my Silver Lining Journals and Workbooks provide opportunities to learn more about how to cultivate gratitude and include helpful gratitude journal prompts and worksheets.

Building Skills to Uplevel Life: Silver Lining Emotional Intelligence Workbook has many tips and worksheets for addressing the ideas in the Be Thankful Poem, including:

• Developing an attitude of gratitude
• Reframing change, problems, mistakes, and failure
• Looking for the silver lining

Increasing My Happiness Quotient: Silver Lining Joy Journal & Workbook has tips and journaling prompts to boost your happiness skills. Gratitude is one of 50 feel-good emotions covered. 

Roses, Thorns and Buds Silver Lining Journal for Daily Joys, Challenges and Inspirations helps you think about and note the things you are grateful for (Roses), challenges (Thorns), and things that lift you up or you are looking forward to (Buds).

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