The Simple Practice You Need to Become the Ultimate Version of You
The simple practice that develops the skill of optimism, overcomes anxieties, and finds the goodness required to progress.
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“Immediate gratitude focuses us to live consciously in the present & fills us with goodness.”
To Note:
I believe in God and consider myself a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you believe differently, please feel welcome to re-frame these same principles from your viewpoint of a higher power. I will always believe in more commonality than difference when it comes to principles people subscribe to for living fulfilling lives.
As I looked back on what the biggest key to my mindset transformation was and peeled back layers until I found the origin, I found a key principle. Because I believe I found the root of all the good I’ve experienced since my own transformation, I needed to share.
So let’s get started. Here’s how you can take the first step to frame your mind in a way that allows you the transformations you desire.
My Story
My tear-stained face felt tighter than usual. I was finishing my Stevie Wonder playlist and heading out to the snow-covered, rusty 1978 GMC Sierra I borrowed from my brother to drive to school. It had been an interesting few months. I often described myself as a “science experiment” searching for the quick fix that would jump-start me back into the smart, happy, and determined girl I used to be. At 17, living in a supportive home with great parents, friends, and family, I should have been hopeful about the future. Instead, I felt an overwhelming sense of doom. Despite trying every solution—medicinal, holistic, and even the desperate plea for homeschooling—I couldn’t shake the dread of returning to school. Now that I was officially re-enrolled, every morning was a battle just to get there. I woke up with a pit in my stomach, hot tears welling up before I even got out of bed. Dragging myself through the motions—showering, eating, and hopefully brushing my teeth—felt like carrying Jacob Marley’s chains. “Sir Duke” became my distraction. When I finally jumped into the driver’s seat, I wanted to go anywhere but where I was supposed to. The paradox was that while anxiety kept me from school, it also pushed me there, knowing I was being buried alive by missed work and could lose my chance at a diploma. The truck eventually sputtered to life, and I bounced along the highway to school.
Some days, I’d drive there only to pack back up and head home. One day, I kept driving until the truck ran out of gas, forcing me to call my mom for rescue—nowhere near school. My head was full of racing thoughts, each one heavier than the last, burying any potential light. The few days I made it into school, I spent my hours in the counseling office, struggling to focus on assignments, barely able to stay conscious of what was in front of me. I saw no way back to who I used to be—an A-student, socially adept, ambitious, and determined. She seemed to be dead.
This is an image I drew one night as I struggled to sleep.
In that bumpy truck, I sought anything to distract me from the anxiety gnawing at my mind. I glanced up and saw snow-topped mountains. I spoke to Heaven often, and this time I thought, “Wow, what beautiful mountains. Thank You for painting this sunrise behind them.” For the first time in a long while, the beauty outside took me out of my head. The mountains, the synchronized flight of birds—it reminded me that life was bigger than the swirling thoughts in my mind. I discovered something simple but life-altering — a practice I call immediate gratitude. It became the doorway out of my mind and back into my life. That moment became the beginning of my Reset — the shift I didn’t know I desperately needed. Today, I help others experience that same reset, and if you’re craving that turning point too, keep reading — I’ll share a next step you can take when you’re ready.
How about you?
Experiencing depression & anxiety certainly isn’t unique to me. I wonder, do you see yourself in any part of my story? Have you ever felt the weight of the world on your shoulders or even just a piece of it? Do you feel like you're losing control of some aspect of your life, or maybe all of it? Even if you feel alright, do you dream of becoming an even better version of yourself? If you can relate to any of this, I see you. That’s why I’m writing. My search for hope once felt bleak, but today, hope is one of my primary emotions. Through my experiences with faith and guidance from good mentors, I’m doing things my 17-year-old self never imagined. One principle in particular stands out, and I feel called to share it. And now, eight years later, I fully back what I learned then as the most impactful lesson on me. Like a big sister, I hope to offer you something that brings you one step closer to becoming the person you envision. Life is all about relationships—those with others and with ourselves. You can build a life and future you’re excited about, no matter the circumstances.
The One Thing
As a growth seeker, I’m always pondering the “first step.” The first steps toward change can feel daunting when you start with the ultimate goal in mind. Author Gary Keller emphasizes the importance of a first step—a “large domino” that knocks down the rest. He calls it “The One Thing”. Through my own experiences, I’ve become convinced that the first step is simpler than we might think. In fact, it may always be the same, regardless of our situation, personality, or circumstances. The first step toward transformation, whether you're at rock bottom or already feeling on top of the world, is to begin with immediate gratitude. And that foundational practice is key to knocking down all the “dominoes”.
Filled with Goodness
Beginning with our mindset is essential because the mind is the starting point on the journey to the heart. True growth is when our hearts are changed, and the traits we seek become part of everything we are. If we don’t control our minds, lasting change is impossible. But if we can achieve lasting change, it means we are truly filled mind, body & spirit with a new value. These values build confidence & capability within us in the right way, & for the right reasons.
When we think about who we want to become, we look at that future version of ourselves as someone who holds a high standard of values. These values also keep us focused and aligned with our true selves, helping us stay on track toward fulfilling our life’s mission. Values in general fill us with a greater measure of goodness.
But how do we begin filling ourselves with that goodness? We live with optimism. Optimism is the skill that gives life to all our values and maintains the life they’ve gained. It’s the skill that diminishes anxieties, and finds both the perspective & goodness to move forward even when challenges arise. But one doesn’t simply become an optimist. Again, optimism is a skill. The primary way we develop the skill of optimism is by practicing immediate gratitude. Gratitude right now. Gratitude hones in optimism by recognizing the value inherent in God’s creation & the creative efforts of others. It’s looking past circumstance & deciphering purpose. When we can learn to see that goodness is in every immediate moment, we learn to maintain an unbreakable attitude of trust in a bigger plan.
Gratitude Invites Presence
Immediate gratitude forces us into the present moment. This matters because transformation requires presence. Until we are aware of our thoughts, skills, shortcomings, etc., we can’t identify what changes need to occur, and we won’t see the strengths we already have to keep moving. The presence brought from focusing on the immediate good brings us back to a level of awareness conducive to productivity. A place where we can critically think. That presence also tunes our minds into what is true. And the truth sets us free.
Immediate gratitude also keeps us conscious of the people and opportunities in front of us. Because our minds are built to find more of what we focus on (or are present with), we will find that the good we seek comes in abundance just by recognizing that it’s good in the first place. It keeps us aware of our own capabilities and ability to challenge our minds and bodies. It helps us stay aware of our progress and the miracles at work in our lives. This immediate gratitude practice is the bridge between a great self-image and the necessary self-awareness for continuous improvement. It allows us to extend grace to ourselves and others, and to pace our forward progression. All of this is possible because we maintain awareness (or presence) when we practice immediate gratitude.
Transformation
So what changed for me that day when I noticed the mountains? For a moment, I wasn’t the victim of my own mind. I changed my focus to the world around me. I chose to live in the present moment, where I could identify truths & combat the feelings that tried to destroy me. When I began focusing on the things I was grateful for, I stopped telling myself I had no worth. I could see the truth. “I’m so stupid” turned into, “I’m grateful for my determination—I can figure this out.” Speaking truth into myself changed how I showed up. Over time, I broke through the barriers of negativity and self-imprisonment, discovering that mastering my mind was always within my control.
As a mom of two (2 and under), my ability to feel grateful is tested daily. But the principle holds true. Even in moments of overwhelm, practicing immediate gratitude brings me back to center. It fills my cup so I can pour into others, helping me to fill my roles the way I want to.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. That’s why Reset & Rise exists — to shorten the struggle and accelerate the shift.
To sum it all up…
I start with gratitude because it’s practical. Immediate gratitude focuses us to live consciously in the present. It amplifies the good in our lives, builds self-awareness, and deepens our relationship with God or whatever it is that aligns with your beliefs as a higher power. When you live with gratitude, life becomes vivid and exciting—even in the face of challenges. Gratitude helps us see the miracles God grants as we grow toward Him and strengthens our trust in ourselves as stewards of our minds.
Where to start:
Before you begin, recognize that perfection isn’t attainable. I am certainly not disciplined 100% of the time to live by these principles (I’m shooting for more wins than less—just 51%). ;) But, I’m grateful for the gift to change and return to this better way – and that’s how I try to live.
The people in my life I’m the most inspired by, are those who seem unfazed by uncertainty, positive in the wake of challenge, and somehow manage always to find something to laugh about. These are the people who have the skill of optimism. I created this Immediate Gratitude freebie to help with this! Click below to grab your free download!
Looking for a little more? If you want a step-by-step process for building a strong foundation & more mental resilience I built Reset & Rise: A Peaceful Path to Becoming Your Best Self for Home & Beyond. Inner culture is everything! I wanted to give you everything I’ve learned about how I manage my inner culture & executed on this mindset makeover. I also wanted to teach how to build a vision, how to pursue that vision & the practical tools that make that vision a reality. Using that new culture, you can make the impact you were intended to make both at home and when you walk out the door. If that is something you are interested in learning more about click here!
I hope you enjoy it all. Enjoy the fruits of living in truth (not logic, but eternal truth – the kind that can’t change or vary in each mortal mind). Truth about yourself, your identity, your abilities and opportunities. Truth about others. When you practice immediate gratitude you experience presence. When you experience presence, you can know truth. When you know truth, you know God. When you know God, you can know the ultimate version of you.
Disclaimer: I do not deny the reality of mental illness, or the necessity of medical intervention. While I am not currently seeking professional help, I believe in the miracle of medication when necessary. Please seek professional intervention if needed, and feel free to use these tools alongside it.
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A mind makeover sounds intimidating, especially if you’re starting from rock bottom. But I’m convinced you only really need one thing to make it all happen.