Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind Podcast, where we're learning how to be happier by working with our minds.
If you'd like to know more about what I teach, come to iintendtobehappy.com. Let me get you started on a really great small course that will help get you on track to being happier.
The Ache of “Not Enough”
I received a letter from one of my students. She wrote:
“I’ve been feeling stuck lately, like something’s always missing. I wake up reaching for the next thing—the next goal, the next accolade, the next version of myself that will finally feel done. But no matter what I check off, that feeling of not enough keeps circling back. I want something deeper. A way to live that actually lets me rest. How do I slow down the noise? How do I build a life that feels full even on the days when everything looks ordinary?”
It’s a powerful question. One many of us face.
The Trap of Always Reaching
There’s something quietly magical about waking up to what you already have. No fanfare. No Instagram-worthy photos. Just the simple realization:
This life, right here, is enough.
We’ve fallen into a trap—believing happiness lives just beyond our reach:
- When we land the promotion
- When we meet the perfect person
- When everything is finally “in order”
But what if happiness isn’t waiting out there?
What if it’s already here—tucked inside the ordinary?
Gratitude Isn’t a Checkbox
Too often, gratitude feels like a chore:
- Write it down
- Check the box
- Move on
But real gratitude is a lens, not a ritual.
It’s the way you notice:
- Sunlight through the curtains
- Birds singing outside your window
- The hum of morning coffee
- Your dog greeting you
- A kind message from a friend
- The stillness before the house wakes up
These are not “small things.” They’re the foundation of a life that feels truly alive.
Gratitude Doesn’t Mean Settling
Feeling grateful doesn’t mean your life is perfect.
It doesn’t mean you stop wanting more.
It means you grow and dream from a place of fullness—
Not from lack.
So yes, you might still want more confidence, or to reclaim your health.
But those desires aren’t born from fear.
They’re born from enoughness.
Softening the Edges
Life is messy. There’s grief, setbacks, longing.
Gratitude won’t erase them—but it can soften the edges.
You might be standing in the middle of something painful, but still say:
- “I have this warm cup of tea.”
- “I can pause and breathe.”
- “I’m so glad my dog still loves me.”
That’s your lifeline.
Even in the chaos, there’s so much to hold onto.
Anchor Yourself with Gratitude
Start your day with one small thing you’re thankful for.
Say it like it matters.
Maybe it’s:
- A comfy blanket
- A hot shower
- The birds singing
Over time, gratitude becomes the rhythm of your day.
Your mind begins to scan for what’s working—
And that restlessness of not enough?
It won’t take you over as easily.
The Courage to Live with Enoughness
Living from gratitude is not for the faint of heart.
It takes courage.
Because it means saying:
- “I won’t let my life be measured by a never-ending checklist.”
- “I’ll see the sacred in the mundane.”
- “I’ll say yes to the moment I’m in.”
The world will always shout:
- You need more
- You must be more
- You’ll be enough when…
But if you lean into gratitude, now becomes enough.
And that’s not a small shift.
It’s a transformation.
Gratitude Changes Everything
When you pause—when you notice:
- The breath in your lungs
- The shoes on your feet
- The hum of life around you
You’re not noticing “nothing.”
You’re noticing everything.
Day after day, you train your mind to see what’s already working, already rich.
And that might just change how you move through everything that comes next.
There’s Nothing Missing
Here’s the quiet truth:
If you don’t learn to be grateful for what’s already here,
Even the biggest achievements will feel hollow.
But if you live from a place of enoughness—
You’ll find a life that’s full, unrestricted, inspired…
No matter what’s going on around you.
And that might be the best kind of magic we can invite in.
I hope this is helpful.
I hope you’ll come and join me in The Happiness Baseline, a powerful course to teach you how to be happier.
As always, be kind.
Take care.
Go gently in the world.
