Gratitude: Affirming the Good Things in Life

by Melody Beattie

One simple concept can get us through the most stressful times in life: Gratitude. In these inspiring passages originally introduced in Codependent No More, Beyond Codependency, and The Language of Letting Go, author Melody Beattie explores how gratitude can work miracles in our lives, transforming negative, self-defeating thoughts into recognition of the gifts life has to offer.

In sections devoted to affirming gratitude, nurturing yourself, learning acceptance, and setting your goals, Beattie teaches you to say thanks for the way things are and to recognize the lessons in every experience.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Health

88 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Melody Beattie was an American self-help author best known for her groundbreaking work on codependency. Born in 1948 in Minnesota, she endured a traumatic childhood marked by abuse and early substance addiction. After achieving sobriety, she became a licensed addiction counselor and began writing to help others navigate emotional recovery. Her 1986 book Codependent No More became a bestseller, selling eight million copies and helping to bring the concept of codependency into mainstream awareness. Over her career, she authored 18 books, including Beyond Codependency, The Language of Letting Go, and Make Miracles in Forty Days. Though her work is often associated with Co-Dependents Anonymous, her books were independent of the program.
Beattie’s personal life reflected many of the struggles she addressed in her work, including four marriages and the loss of a son. Her writing often drew from her own experiences with grief, addiction, and healing. In early 2025, she was forced to evacuate her Malibu home due to wildfires and died shortly after at her daughter’s home in Los Angeles from heart failure.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good friend of mine let me borrow this book after I told her I was stuck in a bit of a “mind funk,” and I know why she chose this one. It’s full of happy truths and aspirational advice; nothing ground-breaking, but it came at the right time to allow me to acknowledge feelings and feel hope.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years I have realized how powerful GRATITUDE really is!

It can calm you down, focus your thoughts, and make you happier.
I have proven it over and over and over again :)

This book is a sweet little reminder of daily thoughts for gratitude...

Because sometimes it is really hard to think of anything you are grateful for!

"Look closely at the ordinary in your life. While you're being grateful, don't forget to express pure, sheer gratitude for how beautiful the ordinary really is. We can easily overlook the ordinary and take it for granted. The sun rises and sets, the seasons come and go, and we forget how beautiful and sensational the familiar really is."

Here is another one of my favorites from the book:

"Sometimes we get so busy trying to get more, we forget to be thankful for what we've got."

One more:

"... help me remember to be thankful even when the gift is not quite what I expected."

Be grateful for the BIG things!
Be grateful for the LITTLE things!

Life is full of things to be grateful for!
You just have to be willing to look for them :)

[Luminea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have owned this little book for about 20 years and have read it many times. It is packed with wisdom and inspiration, and lots of reminders to take good care of myself and give myself credit for doing the best I can. It alweays uplifts me to read it and motivates me to make simple yet powerful changes in my life. I am so grateful to have this book in my collection. :)

[Ellie Partin sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, its a simple read, easy to understand, and extremely applicable. I continue to readf it daily as there is always something that I can apply to my daily life,.
The book is excellent for changing a persons outlook and perspective on life

[UrbanWitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tiny book is a grand invitation to start practicing self-love and self-compassion. It is also an immense boost of self-esteem for those of us who struggle with self-image, deservingness, and 'what ifs'. When we are in the stifling grip of fear, we start questioning everything, including ourselves and life in general. Melody Beattie reassures us with comforting thoughts that we are doing just fine and that having gratitude for our experiences is the key to a peaceful life.


Louise Hay introduced me to the concept of gratitude, and Beattie's book reads similarly to her self-help style. I believe Beattie was probably inspired by Louise's teachings but perhaps everybody in the self-help scene was influenced by Louise around the time Beattie wrote the book in the 90s. Nonetheless, if you like Louise's books you will enjoy reading 'Gratitude' too. It has a positive tone with uplifting suggestions.


I recommend reading this book when you are in a vulnerable place because then the content might prove even more effective just like a soothing balm for the aching soul in times of pain. In case you often struggle with yourself because of your fearful beliefs then this little booklet is great to have at hand so that you can reaffirm the good and helpful thoughts that provide a healthy structure in life. Read my favorite excerpts from the Gratitude below.


💛 "This "what if" attitude is always good for a strong dose of fear. We scare ourselves, then wonder why we feel so frightened. When these thoughts occur we need to stop them. Immediately! Then we can give ourselves a big emotional and mental hug. We tell ourselves we're okay. It's wonderful to be who we are. Our thoughts are okay. Our feelings are appropriate."


💛 "We can accept our wonderful selves, with all our faults, foibles, strong points, weak points, feelings, thoughts, and everything else. It's the best thing we got going for us. It's who we are, and who we were meant to be. It's not a mistake. We are the greatest thing that will ever happen to us. Believe it. It makes life much easier."


💛 "We are good. We are good enough. We are appropriate to life. Much of our anxiety and fearfulness stems, I believe, from constantly telling ourselves that we're just not up to facing the world and all its situations. Well, I'm here to say we are indeed fit for reality. Relax. Wherever we need to go and whatever we need to do, we are appropriate for that situation. We will do fine."


💛 "Sometimes, we can't even do our best; that's okay too. We may have feelings, thoughts, fears and vulnerabilities as we go through life but we all do. We need to stop telling ourselves we're different when we're actually doing and feeling what everyone else does."


💛 "We can accept ourselves - all of who we are. Start where you are at, and you will become more. Develop your gifts and talents and be grateful for these talents. Trust yourself. Assert yourself. You can be trusted. Respect yourself. Be true to yourself. Honor yourself, for that is where your magic lies. That is your key to the world."


💛 "We don't have to be perfect. We don't even have to be nearly perfect. We can just be who we are. We can make mistakes in our choices. We're not so fragile that we can't handle making a mistake. It's no big deal! It's part of living. We can learn from our mistakes, or we can simply make another decision."

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed like the perfect week to read a good book titled Gratitude. "Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Thank you.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short excerpts from some of Melody Beattie's best books. Who doesn't need the occasional reminder to count one's blessings? I appreciate the reminder.

[Susan Hetherton · Rating 5 out of 5]

effective

This book is simple reading but so effective if you are in a season to listen. Melodie really hits the points. I will be re-reading this book for sure.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, this book is a great reminder to find gratitude, no matter what your current situation is.

[Judi Gilligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe I have had this book since 1992 and have moved it four time. I finally opened and read it. I "should" have read it years ago. I hope Melody died happy with her goals achieved.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody Beattie focuses on gratitude from her own experiences in recovery from multiple addictions, which she examines in Codependent No More, Beyond Codependency, and her first daily meditation book, The Language of Letting Go. She writes, "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life, makes things right, turns what we have into enough, and more." Intuitively, we know the truth in this. Nonetheless, as recently as 2011, The University of California, Berkeley, obtained a grant to explore the scientific understanding of gratitude, particularly in the key areas of health and well-being, developmental science, and social contexts (http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expan...). Whether one finds their answers intuitively or empirically, the practice of gratitude is a helpful tool in managing one's life.

[Cheryl D]

I want to get this book.

[Monica Skeens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice inspirations to have handy to read when you need pick me up.�

[Mariya Bahadi]

very inspiring

[nella engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gratitude: Inspirations by Melody Beattie

This book is so inspiring! thanks for a book that lifts your mood and gives you a higher perspective on everything!

[Julie Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely reflection that incorporates quiet introspection with a daily gratitude practice. Melody suggests transformative ways to be lit from within.

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a series of meditations.

[gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite basic but uplifting and refreshing read :) the author is Christian but a lot of what she says reminds me of Buddhism -- compassion, letting go, finding and accepting peace