Hy beautiful peeps!
So, today we were just sitting on the couch in the TV lounge while scrolling on TV, I stopped at a news channel and started watching it.
(Just for the flow a little background information: There is heavy rain going in my whole country these days, leading to floods, causing a lot of property damage, with nothing left behind.)
My whole family was quite serious, eventually my papa received call from his friend, and he told him that his whole ground floor is literally full of water, and they are now shifted on the first and second floor, with their garden, backyard and their cars destroyed.
Ahhh…that moment I realized, how blessed I’m, the so-called problems of life, who have taken over my whole life’s sweetness away seemed nothing that moment. I was just sitting there with everyone talking, having tea, and talking with each other, noticing their faces, the smiles, laughter, the silly conversation among siblings and a safe home.
You know what, it’s not just me, nor you, nor the one sitting around you, it’s human nature. We all face struggles. Sometimes they come as heartbreak, sometimes as failure, sometimes as uncertainty that leaves us restless at night. And in those moments, we often ask, “Why me?” But what if I told you that there’s one secret that can transform the way we see our hardships, a secret that doesn’t erase pain, but gives it purpose?
That secret is gratitude. I know it sound very ordinary, and you will definitely say, you are already doing this, but trust me, your presence here is a proof, you just say this, not practical in it.
~Why Gratitude changes everything:
Gratitude isn’t about ignoring your problems or pretending everything is fine. It’s about shifting focus from what’s missing to what’s still present. Psychologist Robert Emmons, one of the world’s leading researchers on gratitude, writes that grateful people don’t deny the negative aspects of life, but they choose to value the gifts hidden within them.
Fact is, we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we interpret it. Gratitude is that interpretation. When you see every struggle as an opportunity, to grow, to strengthen faith suddenly, the weight you carry feels lighter.
~The Spiritual side of gratitude:
In Islam, the Qur’an reminds us: “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor].” (14:7). Gratitude is not just a ritual. It’s a lens. A way of living that transforms even suffering into a reminder of divine closeness. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once said: “Wondrous is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter.” If something good happens, they thank Allah, and if something bad happens, they are patient, and even that becomes a blessing.
~Psychology confirms it too:
Modern research backs what spirituality has been teaching for centuries. Studies from Harvard and UC Berkeley reveal that practicing gratitude lowers stress, increases happiness, improves sleep, and even strengthens the immune system. In other words, gratitude doesn’t just change your mind, it changes your body, your heart, your relationships, your life.
~How to practice gratitude in struggles:
Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally when life feels heavy, but it can be practiced, slowly and sincerely. Here are a few gentle ways I’ve found it helps:
Notice the small things:
Jot down three blessings at the end of the day, maybe a smile from someone, some teatime with your parents or siblings, a safe roof over your head, or simply the chance to breathe. These little reminders add up.
Say Alhamdulillah, or simply, “Thank You:”
Not just when things are easy, but especially when they’re hard. Gratitude in pain has its own quiet power.
Turn reflection into prayer:
Gratitude isn’t only a feeling; it’s a connection. A reminder that even right now you are in struggle, you’re being carried by something greater than yourself.
~In the end, life will never be free of struggles, that’s why its life, it keeps going, but it doesn’t have to be empty of meaning either. Gratitude doesn’t erase our pain, but it softens it, reshaping it into something we can carry with strength. When we learn to say thank You even in the darkest nights, we discover that blessings were never gone, they were simply waiting to be seen, life used to be the same throughout, it’s just days feel more good because of some people, and it’s you who considered it good, And maybe that’s the real secret: the more we give thanks, the more we realize we already have enough.