Gratitude Can Help You Find Purpose at Work

Bernice Gordon & WBN News Langley August 29, 2025

Purpose at work often feels like a lofty ideal, something we hope to stumble upon rather than something we intentionally build. But one of the most overlooked tools for discovering that purpose is surprisingly simple: gratitude.

Gratitude shifts your lens from what’s missing to what’s meaningful. It nudges you to notice progress, value impact, and appreciate the people and moments that give your work deeper resonance.

Here’s how gratitude fuels purpose on the job:

It centers your values. When you reflect on what you're thankful for, patterns emerge that energize you, who uplift you, and where you feel most useful. That’s the purpose in disguise.
It strengthens relationships. Purpose isn’t found in isolation. Expressing appreciation builds stronger connections, which amplify belonging and meaning.
It counters burnout. Gratitude reminds you why the work matters, even on hard days. It grounds you in contribution, not just output.
It boosts resilience. When things go wrong, a grateful mindset helps you find learning instead of loss, and that reframing keeps purpose intact.
It fosters clarity. Journaling or sharing what you’re grateful for regularly helps you distill what you truly value, so you can pursue more of it.

Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring challenges; it means choosing to focus on what fuels you. And that’s where purpose lives: not in perfection, but in perspective.

So if your work feels foggy, start with thanks. Because noticing what you appreciate just might point you back to what you’re meant to do.

Bernice Gordon | CEO – Coaching with Bernice
📧 Email: bernicegordon@shaw.ca
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernicegordon

TAGS:
#Workplace Gratitude #Career Purpose #LeadershipWellbeing #WBN News Langley #Bernice Gordon