by Kathi Szabo
Autumn marks the season of Gratitude. Gratitude is not simply a feeling; it’s something we intentionally do.
The Season of Turning Inward
October has always felt like an invitation to pause. The air cools, the leaves turn, and life begins to quiet. It’s a natural time to reflect — to look back on the year, the lessons learned, the joys celebrated, and the challenges overcome. Autumn reminds us that everything has a season, even our emotions and experiences.
As I look outside, surrounded by the colors of change, I’m reminded how gratitude helps me stay grounded. Amid all of life’s movement: the uncertainty, the busyness, the constant flow, gratitude offers a steady center. It’s what keeps me connected to what truly matters.
My Journey with Gratitude
Gratitude didn’t always come easily to me. Like so many, I used to focus on what was missing, what I didn’t yet have, what hadn’t worked out, where I thought I should be. But over time, I realized that mindset was draining my joy.
The shift began with a simple practice: spending the month of November posting on social media something I was grateful for each day. At first, it felt small, like too simple to make a difference. But as the days turned into weeks, something changed. My focus shifted. I began to notice beauty in the ordinary, like a warm sunrise, a kind word, or even the lessons hidden in the challenges life kept bringing me. Gratitude became a lens through which I experienced the world differently.
Gratitude as Mindset Medicine
Today, gratitude is my mindset medicine. It doesn’t erase worry or anxiety, but it certainly changes my relationship with them. When I intentionally give time to gratitude, my worries take a backseat. My heart softens, and my mind quiets.
This practice reminds me that we can’t always control our circumstances, but we can choose where we place our attention. When we center our thoughts on what’s good, what’s already here, we cultivate resilience. Gratitude becomes a powerful grounding tool, shifting us from fear to trust, from scarcity to abundance.
Even on difficult days, gratitude whispers, “You are supported. You are enough.”
Gratitude as Action, Not Just Emotion
Many people think of gratitude as something we feel. But what I’ve come to understand is that gratitude is most powerful when it becomes something we do. It’s an action. A daily commitment to noticing, acknowledging, and appreciating life as it unfolds.
That action might look like slowing down long enough to watch a sunset. It might mean expressing appreciation to a loved one. Offering kindness to a stranger. It could be taking a mindful breath before reacting, or saying a quiet thank-you for your morning coffee.
Each small act of gratitude reinforces a habit of presence. Over time, these moments compound, transforming how we move through the world. Gratitude in action is how we embody joy, not just experience it.
The Birth of Gratitude In Action
Several years ago, I felt inspired to bring this practice to others. What began as a simple idea, to spend the month of November together focusing on gratitude, has grown into one of my favorite Eclectic Well-Being traditions: our Annual Gratitude Challenge, Gratitude In Action.
Each November, we come together for reflection and intentional living. Through daily prompts, mindful practices, and small acts of appreciation, we align our energy with gratitude, just in time for Thanksgiving, the holiday that celebrates it most. Gratitude in Action reminds us that while gratitude starts as a personal practice, it expands outward, touching everyone we encounter.
Gratitude’s Ripple Effect
When we live in gratitude, everything changes. Not just within us, but around us. Relationships deepen. Opportunities seem to flow more easily. Our energy becomes lighter and more magnetic.
Gratitude doesn’t deny life’s difficulties. It doesn’t mask them. Gratitude gives us the perspective to move through them with grace. It helps us recognize the lessons in our struggles, the beauty in our imperfections, and the abundance that exists even when life feels uncertain.
When we choose gratitude consistently, we’re not just feeling thankful; we’re transforming our inner landscape. We begin to cultivate a sense of peace and contentment that lasts long after the moment passes. Gratitude becomes the soil in which joy naturally grows.
Writing Gratitude Into the Next Chapter
This year, as I prepare for our 2025 Gratitude Challenge, I’ve been reflecting even more deeply on this journey. Gratitude has become the foundation for nearly everything I teach and practice at Eclectic Well-Being. It’s the thread that weaves through self-appreciation, relationships, and how we engage with the world.
That’s why I’m thrilled to share that I’ve begun writing a book about gratitude. One that brings together all I’ve learned through my own experiences and my work with clients. My hope is to have it ready in time for next year’s Gratitude Challenge, so it can serve as a companion for anyone ready to walk this path of appreciation and transformation.
Writing about gratitude has reminded me how limitless this practice is. It’s not something we master. It’s something we return to, again and again, with a curious and open heart.
An Invitation to Practice Together
As we move deeper into this season of harvest, I invite you to join me once again for Gratitude in Action, our Annual Gratitude Challenge. Let’s pause together. To reflect, to notice, to honor the gifts this year has brought.
Whether you’ve joined before or this will be your first time, this challenge offers a gentle structure for turning gratitude into a daily rhythm. Each day brings a new focus, a new way to experience the world through appreciation and presence.
Because when we live in gratitude, we live in alignment. We create space for joy, connection, and peace to flourish.
✨ Let’s not just feel gratitude this season, let’s live it.
🌻 Ready to Begin?
Join me for Gratitude in Action: A 10-Day Challenge beginning November 16th. Together, let’s make gratitude a way of life — one mindful moment at a time.
👉 Click here to sign up. https://eclecticwell-being.com/
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