Did you know that about 40% of our happiness is influenced by the choices we make? That means nearly half of your joy is within your control—right now, today.
I learned that nugget of wisdom from Anthony Poponi, a happiness expert who’s been on Gratitude Geek twice because his insights are that good.
Over 11 years and 300+ episodes, I’ve discovered that gratitude isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a practice. A choice. And a habit that compounds into a completely different life.
The five guests featured here taught me daily rituals that take less than 10 minutes but transform how you show up for your business, your relationships, and yourself.
Here’s what they taught me.
The Experts
Before we dive in, let me introduce you to the five people who shaped my daily gratitude practice.
Anthony Poponi (Episodes 163 & 203) is a happiness expert and founder of Focus on the 40, dedicated to reducing suffering and increasing well-being in workplaces and communities.
Susie Glennan (Episode 001) is the creator of The Busy Woman Planner and was my very first podcast guest back in January 2014.
Steve Gamlin (Episode 238) is the motivational firewood guy, an author and speaker focused on visualization and goal setting.
Theresa Rose (Episode 190) is a brand and business crystallizer who helps experts create one-of-a-kind visual brands.
Andrew Kap (Episode 246) is a Law of Attraction expert and author of Just Feel Good.
1. Practice a Personalized Gratitude Ritual
Anthony Poponi’s 12345 Gratitude Practice is simple but powerful. Every day at 12:34 pm, an alarm on his phone reminds him to pause and reflect on five things he’s grateful for. This small, intentional practice helps him reframe his mindset and boost his daily joy.
But here’s the key: your gratitude practice needs to fit you.
I modified Anthony’s practice to suit my own rhythm. Every night at 10:09 pm, my phone reminds me to do eight things—take my pills, do four deep diaphragm-expanding breaths, and reflect on three groovy things that made me smile that day.
This helps me wind down and focus on the positive, even on the hard days. And trust me, when you’re managing a business and a metastatic cancer diagnosis, you need those reminders.
Small nudges keep your gratitude habit consistent. Set a daily reminder on your phone or calendar and make it your own.
2. Turn Challenges into Opportunities
Susie Glennan shared a game-changing mindset shift in that very first episode back in 2014:
“When life throws you a curveball, treat it like a football play that didn’t work. Adjust your strategy, try again, and keep moving forward.”
Instead of beating yourself up over setbacks, celebrate your progress, even if it’s small. This resilience habit rewires your brain for growth and gratitude.
I think about Susie’s advice often. Every failed launch. Every treatment day that knocked me flat. Each client call I had to reschedule. Those weren’t failures. They were plays that didn’t work—so I adjusted and tried again.
That’s not toxic positivity. That’s practical resilience.
When you face a challenge today, pause and ask: What can I learn here? How can I pivot?
3. Find Gratitude in the Simple Things
Steve Gamlin’s daily gratitude habit is to focus on specific moments from the day, not vague “I’m grateful for life” statements.
Try this: each morning or night, jot down three favorite moments from yesterday—the warm sun on your face, a friendly smile, a great cup of coffee. Describe them in vivid detail and let those feelings wash over you again.
Steve taught me that gratitude isn’t about big, dramatic moments. It’s about noticing the texture of your life. The small things that you’d miss if they were gone.
This habit sharpens your awareness of the abundance around you and nurtures a thankful heart. And when you’re running a business, those small moments of joy are what keep you going.
Tonight, write down three specific moments from today. Not “I’m grateful for my family,” but “I’m grateful my daughter texted me a meme that made me laugh.”
4. Shine Light on Others
Theresa Rose makes it her daily mission to see the light in everyone she meets and make them feel genuinely special.
Rooted in her mother’s teachings, Theresa believes this habit builds strong relationships and spreads positivity.
Here’s what I love about this practice: it gets you out of your own head. When you’re focused on recognizing others’ strengths, you stop spiraling in your own insecurities.
And as a bonus? People remember how you made them feel. That’s marketing gold, by the way.
Compliment someone sincerely today. Notice how recognizing others’ strengths can brighten your own outlook.
5. Commit to Consistent Manifestation
Andrew Kap’s secret weapon for a grateful life? Spending just five minutes a day on a manifesting or gratitude exercise.
Whether it’s visualization, journaling, or repeating affirmations, Andrew stresses that consistency beats intensity. This small daily habit rewires your brain for success and keeps you motivated without burnout.
I used to think I didn’t have time for “woo-woo” practices like manifestation. Then I started doing it for five minutes a day and realized—it’s not woo-woo. It’s focus. It’s intention. And it’s deciding what you want and reminding yourself daily that you’re worth it.
Five minutes. That’s it. You have five minutes.
Dedicate 5 minutes today to your favorite gratitude or manifestation ritual. Keep it simple and enjoyable.
Your Daily Gratitude Practice
Here’s what I know after 300+ podcast episodes and working with dozens of women solopreneurs.
Gratitude isn’t just about feeling good. It’s a business strategy. It helps you build genuine, lasting connections with clients, colleagues, and community. It keeps you grounded when things get hard. And it reminds you why you started this whole solopreneur journey in the first place.
Each of these five habits is adaptable. The key is showing up for yourself every day, no matter what.
So which of these five habits resonates most with you? Are you already doing one? Or is there one you need to start today?
I’d love to hear which one speaks to you. Let’s start a conversation in the comments.
Want to hear the full conversations?
- Episode 163: Anthony Poponi on Workplace Happiness
- Episode 203: Anthony Poponi Returns
- Episode 001: Susie Glennan on The Busy Woman Planner
- Episode 238: Steve Gamlin on Achieving Your Personal Goals through Visualization and Gratitude
- Episode 190: Theresa Rose on How to Build a Brand That Stands Out
- Episode 246: Andrew Kap on the Law of Attraction
Stay Groovy!
Heads up: Some of the links here are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to buy. No extra cost to you.
Leave a Reply