Social media often highlights perfection—curated moments, effortless success and picture-perfect lives. But a refreshing trend is cutting through the noise: the “What a privilege” trend. At its core, this trend encourages a simple yet profound perspective change—viewing daily tasks not as burdens, but as privileges.
People are applying this to everyday moments—whether it’s managing a packed schedule, tackling household chores or deciding what to cook for dinner—and recognizing the hidden blessings within them.
For example, someone might share a photo of their kitchen counter piled with dishes and caption it, “What a privilege it is to have food to cook and a home to clean.” It’s a simple but powerful reminder that these moments, even stressful ones, are part of the abundance in our lives.
It’s not about dismissing our challenges, but about appreciating the things we often take for granted and recognizing the blessings in the ordinary.
The beauty of this trend lies in its ability to transform your perspective. By simply reframing the way you see daily tasks or stressors, you open yourself up to a deeper sense of gratitude and fulfillment. Instead of wishing for less work or fewer responsibilities, you might start to see them as signs of opportunity and privilege.
Here are two key reasons why this trend is worth adopting, and how to make it a lasting habit.
1. It Can Help Make Gratitude A Way Of Life
When you think about gratitude, you might naturally think of the big milestones in life—a promotion at work, buying a new home or celebrating health victories. These are moments that easily inspire gratitude. However, cultivating gratitude as a way of life requires a shift in how you view everyday moments, especially those you might normally complain about.
It takes practice to be able to feel grateful for the mundane tasks or things you often take for granted. Think about the times you groan about doing laundry, cleaning the house or spending hours stuck in traffic.
Understandably, these tasks often feel like burdens, but what if you could start seeing them differently? Instead of viewing a pile of dishes as a hassle, you could appreciate it as a reminder of the food you’ve had and the ability to nourish yourself and your loved ones. Instead of dreading the work week ahead, you could find gratitude in the opportunity to contribute, learn and grow professionally.
Research published in Positive Psychology in Practice emphasizes that gratitude is a powerful and beneficial quality, but it doesn’t always come naturally to everyone. It needs to be actively cultivated and practiced.
When people regularly express gratitude, they experience positive effects like improved well-being, stronger relationships and a sense of purpose. Gratitude also helps them make a positive impact on others and the world around them.
The “What a privilege” trend is a great starting point for cultivating gratitude. While you don’t necessarily have to participate in it online, you can build on this trend by incorporating it into your daily life.
Here are a few ways to cultivate gratitude as a way of life.
- Gratitude journaling. Take a few minutes each day to write down three things you’re grateful for—no matter how small. Try adding a “What a privilege” statement to reframe something you might otherwise take for granted.
- Gratitude conversations. Share your new mindset with friends and family. Start conversations with them by expressing appreciation for them and for the simple things in life such as, “I’m so grateful to have you to vent to,” or “What a privilege to have a warm home to come back to after work.”
- Gratitude reminders. Create visual reminders in your space, whether it’s sticky notes or a gratitude board, to prompt you to keep the trend going. These can be a reminder that even the smallest things—like cleaning up after yourself—are opportunities to appreciate life’s abundance.
This trend serves as a reminder to recognize the privileges you have always had. When made into a habit, it can completely shift your perspective. It transforms your attitude and reshapes your life from the inside out, paving the way for greater fulfillment.
2. It Can Help Make The Shift From A Scarcity Mindset
It’s easy to feel like there’s never enough—whether it’s time, money or opportunities—but the “What a privilege” trend offers a powerful antidote. By highlighting simple, everyday moments as privileges, this trend encourages you to view life through the lens of abundance rather than scarcity.
For instance, instead of feeling stressed about the laundry piling up or overwhelmed by a busy schedule, you begin to appreciate those tasks as signs of a full life—food to nourish you, work to challenge you, a home to care for. This mental shift helps you realize that you often have more than enough. This mindset is contagious—it affects how you view the world and everything else in your life.
Research from the 2022 Adult Education Research Conference explores how an abundance mentality relates to “lifelong learning, human flourishing and profound learning.” The authors suggest that cultivating an abundance mindset can lead to increased gratitude and a greater sense of well-being.
The researchers explain that cultivating an abundance mentality is not an automatic shift but requires ongoing effort. By taking intentional action—whether it’s through showing kindness, being generous or simply practicing gratitude for small moments—you can shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance.
Without embracing a sense of abundance, you might find yourself surrounded by everything you think you need—yet still feel like something’s missing. It’s like always being hungry for more, even when there’s plenty right in front of you. The “What a privilege” trend beautifully exemplifies how we can appreciate what we already have rather than constantly longing for more.
So, as you go about your day, take a moment to pause and ask yourself—What’s one small privilege I can appreciate today? Or contemplate in moments of stress, “In what way is this challenge actually a privilege?”
It could be as simple as savoring the warmth of your morning coffee, taking a few minutes to appreciate the quiet of your home or even feeling grateful for the chance to learn something new at work.
To make it even more impactful, try setting a daily reminder on your phone or keeping a gratitude jar where you write down these moments of privilege and revisit them when you need a boost.
When you train yourself to recognize abundance in everyday life, the world starts to look different. You begin to feel more satisfied, more present and more engaged. And that small shift in perspective? It has the power to change not just how you think—but how you live. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to see abundance everywhere, even in the ordinary.
Are you interested in knowing if you’re noticing your blessings enough? Take this science-backed test to find out: Gratitude Questionnaire
