Learning Gratitude in the Middle of Discomfort

I’ll be honest with you — gratitude sounds easy until life gets uncomfortable.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good gratitude journal. I’ve written “I’m thankful for my health, my family, my coffee” more times than I can count. But when you’re standing in a new country, watching mosquitos hold a welcome party on your legs while your husband looks at you like, “Babe, what did you just get me into?” — gratitude suddenly feels like work.

And that’s exactly where I found myself during our very first walk-through of our new home here in Mexico.

The Walk-Through Reality Check

So picture this: the sun was out, the birds were singing, the mountains stood tall in the distance, and I was ready to breathe in that new life smell — the kind that only comes when you’ve made a bold move and followed God’s voice into something unknown.

But as we walked through the house, my mind started doing what it does best — making lists.

You know that mental list we all make?

• “That wall needs repainting.”
• “That outlet cover is crooked.”
• “The water pressure could be better.”
• “Is that… a spider or a new kind of pet?”

And just like that, I wasn’t admiring the house anymore — I was critiquing it.

Now, don’t judge me. When you’ve spent years living in a country where you can pick up the phone and have a handyman on your doorstep in an hour, it takes a little rewiring to get used to a new rhythm. Here in Mexico, things move at a different pace. Sometimes slower, sometimes different, but always full of heart.

And that’s when it hit me — I was so busy focusing on what wasn’t perfect that I was missing what was beautiful.

The Perfectionist Meets Peace

I’ve always been that woman who likes things done right. You know — candles lit just so, pillows fluffed evenly, a to-do list checked twice. I’m a recovering perfectionist.

But here’s the thing: when God moves you into a new season, He’ll often use discomfort to stretch the perfection right out of you.

Because perfection doesn’t make room for peace.

I wanted to control everything — the move, the unpacking, the pace, even the mosquitos. And God was over here like, “Daughter, I need you to let go so I can show you something better.”

That night, as we sat out on the porch listening to the church bells ring in the distance, my husband looked at me and said, “Baby, what did you get me into?”

And without missing a beat, I said, “Baby, I don’t know.”
We both laughed, because the truth is, I really didn’t.

All I knew was that I had heard God say go.

The Moment Gratitude Found Me

The next morning, I woke up early. The air was different. The light spilling through the window was soft and golden. I could hear birds singing and the faint sound of church bells in the distance.

And as I walked out onto our terrace, I stopped.

Before me was the most breathtaking view — mountains layered in soft mist, colors that shifted as the sun rose, and the sound of life waking up around me.

And in that moment, gratitude found me.

It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t from a checklist. It just flowed. I started whispering, “Thank You, Lord.”

Thank You for this view.
Thank You for this peace.
Thank You for this chance to start fresh.

And I reached over to my husband and said, “Baby, we’re home.”

He smiled. And right then, I knew — gratitude shifts everything.

Coaching Moment: Gratitude in Transition

Here’s what I want you to know — gratitude isn’t pretending everything’s perfect. It’s choosing to see God even when things aren’t.

Transition — whether it’s moving to a new country, changing careers, or navigating menopause — is messy. It’s emotional. It’s uncomfortable. It’s a wild mix of excitement, anxiety, and second-guessing.

But it’s also sacred.

Because when life strips away your routine, it gives you a new opportunity to see what truly matters.

And that’s where gratitude grows — not in the comfort, but in the stretch.

When you practice gratitude in discomfort, you anchor yourself to hope. You give your heart permission to breathe when everything around you feels foreign.

How to Practice Gratitude When You Feel Overwhelmed

Here’s a little practice I teach my clients — and one I use myself on the hard days.

1. Find one thing — just one.
When everything feels chaotic, don’t try to find ten blessings. Just find one. It might be as simple as, “I’m thankful for this morning light,” or “I’m thankful that I woke up today.”

2. Speak it out loud.
There’s power in what you say. Gratitude spoken has energy. Even whispering “thank You, God” can shift your entire mood.

3. Pair gratitude with movement.
Go for a walk, stretch, dance in the kitchen — whatever you can do to move your body while giving thanks. It connects your spirit and your physical energy together.

4. Replace the complaint with a counter-blessing.
Every time you catch yourself saying, “I wish this was different,” immediately follow it up with, “But I’m thankful for…”
It’s not denial. It’s discipline.

5. Reflect on how far you’ve come.
Sometimes we’re so focused on the mountain ahead that we forget to thank God for the mountain we’ve already climbed.

Balancing the Emotions

I’m not going to lie — my emotions have been all over the place since moving here. One moment, I’m crying tears of joy, and the next, I’m irritated because the Wi-Fi goes out during a coaching call.

But that’s life, isn’t it? Especially midlife. The hormones, the changes, the transitions — it’s all one big balancing act.

And that’s why gratitude is so important. It grounds you.

Gratitude doesn’t erase the emotion — it steadies it.

It’s like telling your soul, “Hey, I know this is hard, but we’re still okay.”

The Coaching Lesson: Gratitude Is a Reset Button

When my clients come to me overwhelmed by change, one of the first things I remind them is this: You can’t control the season, but you can control your focus.

Gratitude doesn’t mean you ignore your feelings. It means you acknowledge them and still choose to see God’s hand at work.

So if today you’re feeling stretched, uncertain, or flat-out tired — pause. Take a breath. Find that one small thing to be grateful for.

And remember, gratitude multiplies what you focus on.

When you start thanking God for the little things, He’ll start revealing the bigger ones.

What Gratitude Taught Me About Faith

I thought this move to Mexico would just be about location. But it’s really been about transformation.

God didn’t just move me physically — He’s moving me emotionally and spiritually too.

He’s teaching me that gratitude is a weapon against worry. That it calms the anxious heart and opens the door for peace to walk in.

And isn’t that what we all want? To feel peace — even when life doesn’t look perfect.

How Gratitude Can Change You

When you live in gratitude, here’s what happens:

• You stop needing to control everything.
• You start seeing beauty in imperfection.
• You begin to notice God in the details — in the laughter, the slowness, the small mercies.
• You become softer, not weaker.

That’s the kind of woman I want to be. The kind who can stand in the middle of chaos and still say, “Lord, I thank You.”

A Simple Gratitude Exercise

I want to leave you with a small exercise you can try tonight.

Grab your journal and write down three things that challenged you this week — and beside each one, write one thing you’re grateful for because of it.

For example:

• Challenge: The house isn’t perfect.
  Gratitude: It’s mine, and I get to make it home.
• Challenge: Learning Spanish feels hard.
  Gratitude: I’m learning something new every day.
• Challenge: The mosquitoes are driving me crazy.
  Gratitude: I’m living in a place where the air is fresh and life is full.

Do this for one week and watch how your mindset shifts.

Final Thoughts

I’ll never forget that morning when God changed my heart. When He turned my frustration into gratitude.

Because gratitude is more than a feeling — it’s a lens. It changes how you see your life, your marriage, your purpose, and even yourself.

And it’s contagious. When you live in gratitude, your energy shifts. Your conversations shift. Your relationships grow softer and deeper.

So wherever you are today — in a new country, a new season, or a new beginning — take a moment to pause. Look around. Find the blessing.

Because there’s always one waiting to be seen.

And when you do, don’t just think it. Say it. Speak it. Live it.

Because the moment you start giving thanks — that’s when the real transformation begins.

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