Kiran’s experience with gratitude began during a very difficult time. Around 2019, he gave money to a friend who later cheated him. This betrayal left Kiran feeling deeply depressed. He stopped speaking to his relatives and friends. He isolated himself at home, feeling incredibly sad and unable to express his thoughts or feelings to anyone.
Looking for ways to manage his emotions, he started searching on YouTube. He also decided to try the Gratitude app, which he had downloaded in 2018. He began with a one-day challenge, then tried the seven-day, twenty-day, and eventually thirty-day challenges. The experience encouraged him to make more time for reflection in his everyday life.
“I found that happiness is a state of mind. Practicing gratitude before taking any action gives me positive feelings and the inspiration to take that action.”
~ Kiran
As he continued, he started setting monthly targets for himself and reading success stories from other people. He also made time to write in his journal. After two months of journaling, he began to notice a change. He started talking to his friends again and applied for a new job, which he eventually got. He had previously felt low and stuck in a loop of overthinking. Now, he felt calmer and clearer, with a better sense of what to do next. He also began to look at happiness differently. Instead of seeing happiness as something that depended on external circumstances, he started paying attention to what was already part of his life. He began to appreciate his health and the people closest to him. He learned to choose positive feelings and emotions like love, joy, forgiveness, and acceptance.
“Being happy without conditions means recognizing what we already have. We have our health, close friends, parents, and a beautiful universe. Everyone supports us, knowingly or unknowingly.”
~ Kiran
Over time, gratitude became part of his everyday routine. He now feels grateful for the people in his life and the many things he once might have overlooked, including technology and the world around him. Even stepping outside to catch an auto can bring a sense of appreciation. He no longer feels he needs a specific reason to be happy; he finds things to appreciate in ordinary moments.
This change has also made him more intentional about the people he spends time with. If he senses that an interaction is affecting him negatively, he chooses to step away from the situation. He also encourages his friends to start a gratitude diary, sharing a practice that has become part of his own life.
“It is on autopilot mode now. When I wake up, the gratitude thoughts come automatically. There is no condition; they just naturally come.”
~ Kiran
For anyone going through a difficult time, Kiran suggests writing in a journal every morning and before going to sleep. He also recommends reading real inspirational stories and personal development books. For him, making time to write in his journal and notice what is already part of his life helps him find peace and move forward with clarity.
This is Kiran’s story, shared in his own words and curated with care to preserve its truest form. I’d love to hear your story too. Write to me at preeti@gratefulness.me 💌
Every story is a reminder to notice the good that already exists.
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