Practical Tips for a Gratitude Mindset
Life has a way of throwing us into storms we never anticipated. As a 30-something-year-old who has dealt with her fair share of medical diagnoses, I’ve weathered plenty of them. Survival hasn’t always been easy, but I’m a living, breathing testament to the power of having a gratitude mindset for getting through to the calmer waters on the other side.
You could say my childhood was complicated. Diagnosed with kidney disease not long after I was born, my days were a cycle of hospital stays, surgeries, and recoveries. By the age of two, I’d already lost one kidney.
During my teens, my remaining kidney began to fail. In my early twenties, my health took a nosedive, and the day inevitably arrived – it was time for a transplant.
My incredible dad stepped up as my donor. The surgery was a huge success and the kidney began to work instantly. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of relief that flooded me, and despite all of the post-op medications, bloodwork and follow-ups, everything was looking up – I F’N survived.
Ten months after my kidney transplant, I decided to hit the gym. Everything was going well until I developed a pain in my knee that got progressively worse, leaving me in agony. After multiple emergency room visits, appointments and scans with no answers and no relief, it was my original kidney specialist who sent me for an MRI, which finally led to a diagnosis.
The Stormiest Seas Were Still to Come
At the age of 22, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Large Diffuse B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which thankfully responded well to treatment and went into remission. However, over the next 10 years, I was diagnosed with an incredibly rare cancer called Epstein Barr Virus Smooth Muscle Tumours, underwent surgeries to remove a tumour near my pituitary gland and along my spinal cord, and endured severe sepsis, which led to being put under an induced coma and a cardiac arrest!
I’ll pause here because I think I know what you’re thinking, “How is this girl not F’N dead?” There have been so many times in my life when I probably should have been F’N dead—times when it would have been easy to let a diagnosis get the better of me.
At some point, I realised that even though life had taken so much from me, I still had things to hold onto—people who loved me and moments of peace. I started saying to myself, “I could have F’N died!” It became a reminder to stay grateful, even in my darkest days, because I was still here to say those words.
It didn’t make the pain vanish, but focusing on the things I did have made each day feel a little more manageable. I was recognising the small wins—the supportive words from my family, the resilience I’d built, and the simple fact that I was alive.
The Power of a Gratitude Mindset
Gratitude is a tool, and it transformed my mindset. When I focused on what I had rather than what I’d lost, I found more energy to keep pushing forward. Research shows that gratitude can lower stress, and I felt this firsthand. It gave me the ability to see my life as a journey rather than a series of battles.
This mindset helped me see past my circumstances. Each day, I was reminded that my life wasn’t just pain and hospitals—it was also strength, resilience, and the love of those around me. I saw my life as a gift, and that shift made all the difference.
Celebrating Life After the Storm
Today, I can look back and see all I survived with gratitude. Surviving isn’t about escaping the hard stuff; it’s about making it through to the other side and holding onto life’s simple joys.
After all of the challenges I’ve been through, I learned to celebrate life as the victory it is. Sure, there were plenty of difficult days, but being alive to see my family, experience love, and keep moving forward is a gift I never take for granted. I made it through my storm, and now I get to enjoy the beauty that follows.
Tips for a Daily Gratitude Practice
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Every day, write down something you’re grateful for, whether it’s a phone call from a loved one or just a moment to rest.
Express Gratitude More Often
My husband Aaron, my family and my entire support system mean everything to me, and I remind them every chance I get.
Stay in the Present
Make an effort to pause throughout the day to take stock of what’s happening in that very moment you can be grateful for.
Reframe your Thoughts to Look for the Positive
On tough days, I try to shift my focus to something positive, like I F’N survived.
If you’re just getting started on your gratitude mindset journey, start small and make incremental changes. My book, I Should Be FN Dead!, is filled with practical strategies, hard-won wisdom, and a healthy dose of humour to help you navigate life’s challenges and come out the other side not just alive but truly thriving.
About the Author
Name: Emmilia O’Sullivan
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Bio: Emmilia O’Sullivan is a renowned author, motivational speaker, and podcaster whose life story is a testament to the human spirit’s indomitable resilience. Battling a myriad of health challenges, including kidney failure, cancer, and countless surgeries, Emmilia has defied the odds and emerged as a beacon of hope for those facing adversity.
Website: www.emmiliaosullivan.com
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