--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s up to us to make the choice to be…" description: "\"“It’s up to us to make the choice to be grateful even when things aren’t going well. Nouwen calls that the “discipline of gratitude.” To me, it means n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_good-thing_it-s-up-to-us-to-make-the-choice-to-be-g_779544.jpg" --- # It’s up to us to make the choice to be grateful even when… ![“It’s up to us to make the choice to be grateful even when things aren’t going well. Nouwen calls that the “discipline of gratitude.” To me, it means not just being grateful for the good things, because that’s easy, but also to be grateful for the hard things too. To be grateful even for our flaws…” quote by Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_good-thing_it-s-up-to-us-to-make-the-choice-to-be-g_779544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_good-thing_it-s-up-to-us-to-make-the-choice-to-be-g_779544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_good-thing_it-s-up-to-us-to-make-the-choice-to-be-g_779544.jpg) > ““It’s up to us to make the choice to be grateful even when things aren’t going well. Nouwen calls that the “discipline of gratitude.” To me, it means not just being grateful for the good things, because that’s easy, but also to be grateful for the hard things too. To be grateful even for our flaws, because in the end, they make us stronger by giving us a chance to reach beyond our grasp.”” [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude is a disciplined practice, extending even to hardships, fostering resilience. **In simple terms:** Practice gratitude in good and bad times. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude as a habit, especially during challenges. Themes gratitude resilience mindset growth discipline Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily journaling - stressful projects - personal setbacks - health challenges - relationship conflicts Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - How can you authentically appreciate difficulty? - What small thank‑you rituals help you stay grounded? A Different Perspective Gratitude can feel forced if not genuine, risking superficiality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Hard things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) ## Related quotes > [“to be grateful for the hard things too. To be grateful even for our flaws, because in the end, they make us stronger by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/to-be-grateful-for-the-hard-things-too-to-be-grateful-even-for-our/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“It’s up to us to make the choice to be grateful even when things aren’t going well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/it-s-up-to-us-to-make-the-choice-to-be-grateful-even-when-things-aren-2/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [I'm so grateful for where I am now, but I think I'm more grateful because it's been so hard-won; I haven't given up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneva-carr/i-m-so-grateful-for-where-i-am-now-but-i-think-i-m-more-grateful/) [Geneva Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneva-carr/) > [“Life is a web of intersections and choices. Your 1st choice is to recognize an intersection. Your 2nd choice is to be grateful for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/life-is-a-web-of-intersections-and-choices-your-1st-choice-is-to/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Being joyful is more a state of mind. It’s a choice to be grateful… to be content with what we have and what we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-jaquith/being-joyful-is-more-a-state-of-mind-it-s-a-choice-to-be-grateful-to/) [Sterling Jaquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-jaquith/) > [“... I can see it in the looking back, how this daily practice of the discipline of gratitude is the way to daily practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/i-can-see-it-in-the-looking-back-how-this-daily-practice-of-the/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Gratitude goes beyond the 'mine' and 'thine' and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gratitude-goes-beyond-the-mine-and-thine-and-claims-the-truth-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fortunately, there’s a way to lessen the impact of spiritual amnesia. It’s found in practicing the discipline of gratitude, the habit of regularly giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/fortunately-there-s-a-way-to-lessen-the-impact-of-spiritual-amnesia/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-discipline-of-gratitude-is-the-explicit-effort-to-acknowledge/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kindness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/to-educate-yourself-for-the-feeling-of-gratitude-means-to-take/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kindness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/to-educate-yourself-for-the-feeling-of-gratitude-means-to-take-2/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The word 'Appreciation,' Means to be thankful and express admiration, Approval, or gratitude. It also means to grow or appreciate in value. As You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/the-word-appreciation-means-to-be-thankful-and-express-admiration/) Pacifiersucker > [To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/to-educate-yourself-for-the-feeling-of-gratitude-means-to-take-3/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Gratitude means attitude at the highest altitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/gratitude-means-attitude-at-the-highest-altitude/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [Continuous practice, day after day, is the most appropriate way of expressing gratitude. This means that you practice continuously, without wasting a single day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/continuous-practice-day-after-day-is-the-most-appropriate-way-of/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) ## More by Hillary Rodham Clinton > [“Putin has positioned himself as the leader of an authoritarian, xenophobic international movement that wants to expel immigrants, break up the European Union, weaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/putin-has-positioned-himself-as-the-leader-of-an-authoritarian/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“It’s true, though, that we struggled to stay on message. My advisors had to deal with a candidate—me—who often wanted something new to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/it-s-true-though-that-we-struggled-to-stay-on-message-my-advisors-had/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“He reminded me to focus on the “trendlines,” not just the headlines, and to relish the experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/he-reminded-me-to-focus-on-the-trendlines-not-just-the-headlines-and/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Democrats should reevaluate a lot of our assumptions about which policies are politically viable. These trends make universal programs even more appealing than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/democrats-should-reevaluate-a-lot-of-our-assumptions-about-which/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“You Can't Keep Wild Animal In Your Back Yard And Expect It To Go only After Your Neighbor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/you-can-t-keep-wild-animal-in-your-back-yard-and-expect-it-to-go-only/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In people’s lives and worldviews, concerns about economics, race, gender, class, and culture all blend together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-people-s-lives-and-worldviews-concerns-about-economics-race-gender/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-you-want-to-go-quickly-go-alone-if-you-want-to-go-far-go-together/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“On her very first day, when she politely raised questions about Bernie’s health care plan—she has a master’s degree in public health and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/on-her-very-first-day-when-she-politely-raised-questions-about-bernie/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Too many saw the world in zero-sum terms, believing that gains made by fellow Americans they viewed as “other”—people of color, immigrants, women, LGBT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/too-many-saw-the-world-in-zero-sum-terms-believing-that-gains-made-by/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Usually when I meet people who are frustrated and angry, my instinctive response is to talk about how we can fix things. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/usually-when-i-meet-people-who-are-frustrated-and-angry-my/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In the words of Secretary Clinton, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance in the world to pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-the-words-of-secretary-clinton-never-doubt-that-you-are-valuable/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“To quote Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, under FDR, “The accusation that I’m a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/to-quote-secretary-of-labor-frances-perkins-the-first-woman-to-serve/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“While there are few problems in today’s world that the United States can solve alone, there are even fewer that can be solved without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/while-there-are-few-problems-in-today-s-world-that-the-united-states/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if he knows that the Donald J. Trump Foundation is little more than a personal piggy bank, he’ll turn around and accuse, with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-he-knows-that-the-donald-j-trump-foundation-is-little-more-than-a/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“One of the most important but least recognized facts in American politics is that Republicans tend to win in places where more people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/one-of-the-most-important-but-least-recognized-facts-in-american/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) [Explore all 336 Hillary Rodham Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## More Good thing quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [“I took that warm feeling running through my veins as a good thing and embraced the darkness for I knew it was only temporary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-took-that-warm-feeling-running-through-my-veins-as-a-good-thing-and/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [If good things come to those who wait then I must have something ridiculously awesome coming!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-then-i-must-have-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [IVE LEARNED THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU , ALL THE TIME, IS TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/ive-learned-the-best-way-for-you-to-have-good-things-happen-to-you/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Too many good things all seem the same after a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/too-many-good-things-all-seem-the-same-after-a-while/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) Browse all 6,343 Good thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s up to us to make the choice to be grateful even when things aren’t going well. 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