Strive to find things to be thankful for, and just look for the

Hear the words of Bethany Hamilton, the surfer whose spirit rose above trial and loss, who declared: “Strive to find things to be thankful for, and just look for the good in who you are!” These words, spoken from the heart of one who endured calamity yet refused to yield, are not mere comfort—they are a command to the soul. They remind us that gratitude is not passive, but something to be sought, fought for, and discovered, even amidst the ruins of hardship.

The first jewel in her wisdom is the word strive. To strive is to labor, to wrestle, to exert the will against resistance. Gratitude is not always obvious; in times of pain, despair blinds the eyes. Yet Bethany calls us to strive for thankfulness, to push through sorrow and find even the smallest sparks of light. This is the discipline of the noble heart: to search the shadows for blessings, to gather fragments of hope where others see only emptiness.

The second flame in her words is thankfulness. To give thanks is to anchor the soul in stability when storms rage. It reminds us that even in loss, life itself is a gift; even in suffering, there remains beauty. Bethany herself, having lost her arm to a shark attack, found gratitude not in what was taken but in what remained: her spirit, her will, her ocean, her God. Such thankfulness transforms tragedy into testimony, weakness into strength.

The third jewel is her exhortation to look for the good in who you are. Many spend their lives comparing themselves to others, despising their own reflection, mourning what they lack. Yet Bethany urges us to see within ourselves the divine spark, the unique gifts, the hidden strengths. To find the good in oneself is not arrogance but reverence—it is to honor the creation you have been made to be. The ancients taught that self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom, and that to despise oneself is to dishonor the life given by the gods.

History offers us a mirror in the story of Helen Keller, who, though blind and deaf, found within herself courage, intellect, and compassion. She might have lamented what she lacked, but instead she sought the good in who she was, and through gratitude and perseverance, became a voice for millions. Like Bethany, her life became a living testimony: that limitation does not define destiny, and that gratitude and self-belief can transform weakness into greatness.

The lesson is clear: life will strip from us many things—health, opportunities, relationships—but it cannot strip from us the power to strive, to be thankful, and to look for the good within. These three are the pillars of resilience. They turn despair into endurance, failure into growth, and loss into renewal. Gratitude roots us, striving strengthens us, and self-respect restores us.

Practically, we can live this wisdom by making gratitude a daily pursuit. Each day, strive to name even one thing to be thankful for, however small. When tempted to dwell on flaws, pause and name one strength within yourself—something noble, kind, or enduring. And when trials come, do not surrender to despair; instead, labor to uncover the blessing hidden within the storm. In doing so, you will walk the path Bethany Hamilton laid out: the path of gratitude, resilience, and self-respect.

Thus her words shine like an eternal torch: “Strive to find things to be thankful for, and just look for the good in who you are!” For in these simple commands lies the secret of triumph—not the absence of hardship, but the courage to endure it, and the wisdom to see light within it.