Author: Hafsa Casseem
Junior Marketing Executive at Smart Quest
Let’s be honest—gratitude sounds like one of those feel-good quotes you’d find on a Pinterest board or a coffee mug: “Be thankful!”. But how often do we really stop to feel it? A.J. Jacobs, in his TED Talk about his “year of living with gratitude,” decided to go all in. What started as a quirky experiment turned into a powerful life lesson—and it’s not nearly as cliché as it sounds.
Jacobs took gratitude to the next level by thanking everyone involved in his morning coffee routine. And I mean everyone—from the baristas who brewed it to the farmers who grew the beans, the truck drivers who delivered them, and even the engineers who designed the coffee cup. Extreme? Sure. But what he discovered was something profound: gratitude has a ripple effect. By thanking others, he didn’t just make their day brighter—he transformed his own.
One of the most striking things Jacobs shared is that gratitude isn’t about waiting for the big, Instagram-worthy moments. It’s about noticing the small, everyday ones: the kind gestures, the simple comforts, or even the fact that your coffee is hot and ready when you need it most. When you start looking for those moments, they’re everywhere. And that simple shift? It’s not just about feeling good—it’s a way to rewire your mindset entirely.
Jacobs explains that practicing gratitude actually boosts your brain’s dopamine and serotonin—the chemicals that help you feel happy and focused. It’s not just a fleeting mood lift. It’s about being more present, less stressed, and more capable of handling whatever the day throws at you. Imagine pausing during a hectic day to focus on what’s going right instead of obsessing over what’s wrong. That change in focus can completely transform your day—and your productivity.
Here’s the best part: gratitude doesn’t require perfection or pretence. It’s not about ignoring challenges or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about recognizing the small wins. A quick thank-you to a colleague, a moment of appreciation for a clear blue sky, or even just a nod to the person who held the door open—it all counts.
So, here’s a challenge, straight from Jacobs: the next time something goes right, even if it’s tiny, take a moment to say thank you. Whether it’s a heartfelt acknowledgment or a simple smile, those moments of gratitude can have a bigger impact than you’d think.
And here’s something else to consider: gratitude isn’t just about others—it’s about yourself, too. Thank yourself for showing up, for learning, or for just making it through the day. Gratitude isn’t just a trendy buzzword; it’s a powerful mindset shift. It’s a small practice that can ripple into something much bigger, changing not just your productivity but how you see and experience the world around you.
