Gratitude can change you if you embrace it. Life is full of twists and turns, and it's okay to prepare for them, but it's also essential to focus on the good moments in between. Naming things gives them power; by naming the good things in your life, you give them more power. Don't empower your struggles when you could exalt your happiness.
Learning to practice gratitude is a lifelong journey; as such, Erin talks about it throughout the book. While finding things to be grateful for when millions of people tune in for your opinions on design may seem easy, Erin's practice started long before her time at HGTV. Her autoimmune disorder and general anxiety inspired her to shrug off their heavy weight and focus on the positive things in her life. Her struggles didn't disappear; she still contended with their realities every day; they just stopped getting her focus.
Planning for the worst gives you the security of a solution if all goes wrong. Until then, hope for the best and enjoy all that's good. In the best case scenario, it never happens, and the worst is you have to implement plans B-Z or however many you made. Letting go of fear and focusing on gratitude can improve your mental health. It's not an immediate fix, but the more your practice it, the bigger the positive impact it has on your well-being.
