The experience that led me to create Happy Mindset app
Published June 20, 2024
In the fast-paced world we live in, it's easy to lose sight of the simple joys and profound impacts that gratitude can bring into our lives.
For many, the concept of practicing gratitude might seem abstract or reserved for moments of significant success.
However, gratitude can be a powerful tool, especially during our toughest times.
This realization came to me during one of the most challenging periods of my life, and lead me to create the Happy Mindset app.
Let me tell you the story.
It all started in 2021.
Before developing Happy Mindset, I ran an independent consulting practice focused on email analytics and metrics. And in 2021 when I learned I was pregnant, I expected to go back to that work after a maternity leave.
However, that plan changed when I welcomed my beautiful little girl into the world.
Pregnancy during COVID and giving birth while wearing a mask posed their challenges.
But the biggest hurdle came when my daughter was rushed to the NICU after birth... not breathing.
Initially, we were assured that everything would be okay in a few hours —but what was supposed to be a brief stay turned into several days.
During that time, my husband stayed in a hotel nearby (and visited the hospital frequently) and I stayed in a shared hospital room for mothers of babies in the NICU.
Every three-hours I went to visit my baby and was able to take her out of the incubator, feed, hug, and chat to her. Once she fell asleep, I would go back to the shared room.
And while I was alone lying on a bed in that shared room — I can clearly remember thinking: I am grateful.
It may sound very odd, but at that time, I was VERY grateful:
- That my baby was alive
- For the hospital and its life-saving staff and equipment
- That I was able to deliver my baby vaginally as I hoped
- For my midwife's quick action to request support for my baby
- That I had support from my doula and husband during birth
- Not to be pregnant anymore (yay! Back to sleeping on my stomach!)
- That the night sky was clear, and I was able to admire the full moon as I walked from our house to the car for the drive to the hospital (in-between contractions - yay!)
- That it was a warm snow-free December evening in Canada, which meant my husband and I had an easy drive to the hospital
- That I didn't have to worry about receiving a bill for all of the medical treatment my daughter was receiving
- For the ice packs available at the nurses' station for women who had just delivered
There were so many more things to be grateful for within those first hours of my daughter's life!
And thankfully, after several days in the NICU, my daughter was discharged -- she is now a happy and healthy toddler.
In short, even though the situation was difficult ... and I found solace in gratitude.
It was the ability to see and appreciate the good in life even when things are far from ideal that got me through that rough time.
That experience reinforced for me the power and importance of gratitude, not just on our best days, but also on our hardest days.
Since then, I decided to close my consulting business and focus my time to reflecting on, learning about, and sharing the benefits of gratitude. And that focus ultimately led to the creation of the Happy Mindset app.