Comparison is like a moving airport sidewalk you wander onto… it whisks you 50 yards away to a bad place before you’ve even taken a step. And it always seems to be right there—just one tiny thought or scroll away—ready to dump you into a state of discontentment. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And if that’s true, comparison equally steals contentment, too. 

Contentment, simply speaking, is choosing to be happy with what you’ve got. It’s learning to live in a state of gratitude even for the small things. Because more often than not, it’s the small things that fill our days with meaning.

Spending just a few seconds each day thinking about the things you’re grateful for can radically shift your mindset. If you’re having trouble finding something to be grateful for, we have a list for you (and a free, printable family challenge at the end of this list!) All 50 things may not apply to your current circumstances, but there’s probably more to be grateful for than you might think. 

Your Home 

1. For the roof over your head and a warm, dry place to sleep at night 

2. The clothes on your back and shoes on your feet 

3. The water in your home to take showers and bathe your kids 

4. All of the food in the refrigerator and pantry 

5. Electricity! And for living in the time where it exists 

6. Cell phones and how they connect us to our loved ones all over the world 

7. Having internet access in your home 

8. How fun it is to decorate your home for the seasons 

9. Candles! All the cozy candles

10. A safe, sanitary environment to prepare meals for your family

Your Family 

11. Your kid(s)! Is there a bigger, better thing to be thankful for?

12. Restored relationships in your family 

13. The adorably-perfect way toddler mispronounce words 

14. Long, healing hugs from your teenager 

15. Heart-to-hearts with your middle schooler 

16. All the joy that new babies bring

17. Every night that you were able to rock your child to sleep 

18. Watching your child’s personality develop

19. The moments when you notice your kid make a brave and kind choice 

20. Your favorite kid books, and the time you have to read together 

Your Best Self 

21. Your God-given talents (yes, you have lots!) 

22. The fact that you are the best parent for your child 

23. The ability to move your body

24. Good hair days

25. Coffee (or tea!)

26. Your favorite foods

27. Your body’s 100% success rate of getting you through every single day

28. The way you feel when your favorite song comes on the radio 

29. Your ability to love your child(ren) more than you ever thought possible

30. The unique ways you make others feel good about themselves 

Your Community

31. Your childhood friends

32. The friends you’ve made as an adult 

33. The laughing-so-hard-you-cry moments with others

34. Facebook groups that make you feel less alone 

35. Friendly neighbors 

36. The teachers who care for your child(ren) well 

37. Trusted babysitters!

38. Therapists 

39. Nurses and Doctors who were there on the hardest days

40. The way communities can come together after a tragedy  

Your Simple Joys 

41. The way the leaves change in the fall 

42. How pretty Christmas lights are 

43. The first warm day of spring 

44. Watching your favorite team win a game 

45. Cozy, rainy days 

46. How your house smells when you’re cooking something good 

47. Watching your kid(s) laugh 

48. The feeling of freshly-washed sheets on your bed

49. A clean kitchen 

50. Fresh flowers in a vase