If you’re dealing with student loan debt, medical bills, legal bills, tax debt, foreclosure, unemployment, underemployment, bankruptcy, or lack of savings, you’re not alone. 

According to recent survey data from Stash, money is a major source of stress for 62 percent of U.S. consumers. 31 percent feel constantly anxious over finances to the point of losing sleep. Yet over one-third of survey respondents said they don’t talk about their money troubles because they’re too embarrassed.

The burden of economic insecurity is compounded by the loneliness of trudging through challenges alone. This can threaten feelings of contentment, peace, and hope. 

But you’ve come to the right place to get the knowledge and tools you need to change your circumstances and your mindset. 

Enter Your New Superpower: Gratitude 

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait until our problems are fully resolved to be happy. Accessing gratitude—appreciating what we have—is something that everyone can do no matter the circumstance. 

The practice of regularly keeping a gratitude list or another gratitude exercise has been scientifically observed to help individuals in the following aspects: 

• Increase feelings of optimism about the upcoming week 
• Make progress towards important personal goals 
• Increase levels of alertness, enthusiasm, and determination
• Be more likely to offer emotional support to another person
• Feel more connected to others
• Enjoy longer and better sleep 

How can something so simple yield such powerful results? 

Leading scientific expert on gratitude Robert Emmons explains that gratitude benefits us mentally, physically, and socially because “it’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm there are good things in the world, gifts, and benefits we’ve received.” 

So, in addition to working on your financial habits like making and keeping savings goals and cutting unnecessary spending, your life will improve when you do the mental work to be more thankful.  

We’ve compiled a list of 40 gratitude-worthy things to get you into a thankful mindset. They may not all apply personally, as everyone has different interests, abilities, and opportunities. But you can use this as a starting point to make your own personal list. 

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Our Amazing Planet 

1. The Fascinating Unknown — Little-explored areas like Chile’s Northern Patagonia, Papua New Guinea’s Star Mountains, Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave, and more than 80 percent of the ocean
2. Life-Giving Resources — An abundance of water, sunlight, and air
3. Solar Shield — Earth’s magnetic field provides a barrier to the solar wind, unlike non-magnetized Mars and Venus. The encounter of solar wind with the magnetic field results in the breathtaking auroras observable in high latitudes. 
4. Conservation Efforts — Including efforts to protect against the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, home to more than 40,000 plant species as well as over 2,000 new species of plants and vertebrates discovered since 1999
5. Variety — Mountains, desert valleys, mesas, foothills, a city center park—whatever microcosm of the natural world you have access to
6. Extra Eyes — Telescopes, drones, and satellites that help us see beyond our normal perspective

Comforts and Conveniences 

7. Clean Water — If you’re reading this article, you probably have access to as much clean water as you need to drink. Not everyone does. 
8. Public Libraries — The enjoyment and learning that come from reading whatever you want for free
9. Personal Tech — It’s pretty amazing to be able to monitor your credit from your phone or home shop using augmented reality (AR). 
10. Memory Preservation — The ease of recording thoughts and memories in a journal or taking snapshots with a phone camera
11. Music — When a song you love comes on the radio
12. Sense of Smell — Homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh lemon, forest pines, or a newborn baby’s skin
13. Birthdays — In rich or in poor, your birthday comes around every year. That means one more year to find the good, to contribute, and to discover more about your life’s mission. 
14. Lightbulb Moments — Moments of clarity when something you see, hear or read resonates with you
15. Family Stories — Stories from your family that have been passed down through the generations—or if they haven’t, you can do some treasure hunting yourself via family history research
16. Exercise — And the endorphins available through dancing, biking, running, swimming, basketball, hand-cycling, or whatever else you enjoy 
17. Your Bed — A bed to sleep on and the time, however, limited it might be, to rest
18. Documentaries — They compile observations, research, detailed photography, and stunning videography into a medium that simultaneously entertains and educates. 

Connections and Relationships

19. Acceptance — Friends who don’t care about having rich friends, in-laws who don’t judge your parenting decisions, and a partner who sticks around despite your issues
20. Laughter — It’s the shortest distance between two people, connecting strangers in a funny moment. 
21. Heart-to-Hearts — When someone listens patiently while you vent and you feel completely understood. 
22. Teachers — Memories of a teacher who inspired, encouraged, or believed in you
23. Pets — Pets can teach us a lot about unconditional love and motivate us to be healthy. 
24. Service Opportunities — Whether it’s a donation box at work, a neighbor’s home improvement project, or the chance to nurture a child in your life, everyone has opportunities to serve. 
25. Instant Communication — WhatsApp and other free apps can keep you connected with friends and family across the globe. 
26. Invitations — Even if you can’t make it, an invitation to be included in a gathering goes a long way for your sense of belonging. 
27. Random Acts of Kindness (RAKs) — If you look hard enough, you’ll see them happening around you: a stranger might give you a compliment, pay for your drive-thru order, or refrain from honking when you make a mistake on the road. 

Unexpected Silver Linings     

28. Empathy — For every financial trial you face, you’ll develop empathy for others in your situation. 
29. New Beginnings — Money struggles can make way for opportunities you wouldn’t have considered otherwise, such as pivoting your business, job shadowing, taking online courses, investing in a career certification, or rebranding yourself for an entrepreneurial endeavor.  
30. Opportunities to Share — The trajectory of your past failures and future successes builds a strong foundation for mentoring opportunities. Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” 
31. Awareness — Being aware of what you have to face is the first step to overcoming it. Denial and avoidance are things of the past.  
32. Priorities — You’ve learned how and what to prioritize in your budget.
33. Creativity with Food — Recipes for simple, hearty, and cheap meals
34. Minimalism — Along with paring down your consumer spending habits, you may look into new adventures like downsizing or even buying or building a tiny home. 

Hope for the Future 

35. Mentors — Stories of others overcoming financial problems give us hope that things will work out for us, too. Oprah Winfrey said, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” 
36. Unsolved Mysteries — Like the biological function of yawns, the discovery of life on other planets, and the cure for ALS and other diseases. It’s only a matter of time before we find life-saving solutions and other exciting discoveries. 
37. Big or Small Plans — Whether it’s meeting up with a friend or the arrival of summer, there’s always something to look forward to. 
38. Free Education —  Blogs, podcasts, TED talks, and other resources provide crucial information in bite-sized pieces. And there’s always more to learn. 
39. Financial Tools — From free business expense trackers to budgeting spreadsheets, useful online tools are abundantly available to improve your financial health even in uncertain times. 
40. Your Unique Story — It’s all yours, and the unwritten part is just waiting to be lived. 

There you have it, 40 reasons to be grateful even when money is tight! What have you been grateful for this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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This is a guest post written by Rebecca Graham, a millennial mom with interests in the outdoors, home improvement, and physical, mental, and financial wellness. She is a content marketing manager for the business loan content at BestCompany.com. 

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