How gratitude helps us persevere and come out stronger
We each face a host of ever-changing obstacles and challenges in our day-to-day lives, and no one is immune to the stress that accompanies them. But did you know that overcoming difficulties — as opposed to simply avoiding them — contributes to a healthier and more balanced life?
Experts say that when we confront difficulties armed with the right support and resources, and persevere, we grow in confidence and build resilience.
Gratitude is one important tool for overcoming difficulty. Research shows that the practice of gratitude increases happiness, improves mental and physical health, and leaves us less likely to experience burnout.
For the past six years, UG2 has held an annual gratitude challenge in the month of November. Team members are invited to reflect on a daily gratitude prompt as a conscious and organized way of integrating a gratitude practice their daily lives.
When I think about practicing gratitude as a tool for overcoming difficulty, several prompts from our 2026 Gratitude Challenge seem especially relevant:
Day 1: Purpose
Finding purpose in life is a gift that informs our sense of self. It can also be difficult to keep in our sights when life becomes chaotic. Think back to a person, lesson, or goal that helped you to choose a direction or persist when confronting an obstacle. Consider the ways you have honored that purpose and grown through it.
Day 2: Self-Trust
Do you doubt your judgment or second guess your decision-making? Making missteps is part of living in this world. Believing in our own instincts is powerfully important. Recall a time when you made a good decision. Congratulate yourself.
Day 12. Overcoming
Physical, mental, and emotional barriers confront every one of us. Consider a time you persevered through a challenge. Where did you find the strength to keep going? How did you feel when you make it to the other side?
Day 14. Strength
Our bodies work so hard to support us from head to toe. We demand a great deal of our brains, our hearts, our muscles and ligaments. Even when we are frustrated by our limitations, it is important to reflect on what our bodies do for us every day.
Day 15. Second Chances
Offering another person a second chance, or receiving one, is a powerful opportunity for change, growth and reconnection. At this midpoint of our challenge, can you remember a time someone extended grace to you? Do you have a relationship in your work or home life that would benefit from a second chance?
Like every skill, mastering gratitude takes practice and repetition, which is why we at UG2 dedicate the month of November to honing the practice. And it turns out that practicing gratitude as a group promotes positive social behaviors and strengthens relationships, according to the research. This means that participating in this challenge alongside my wonderful colleagues and coworkers not only makes us more likely to follow through with it but also compounds the positive impacts. And that is just one more thing to be grateful for.