The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Practice That Can Transform Your HR Career
- Julie Turney
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
This week, a client sent me a photo of her gratitude jar, a small glass container filled with colorful notes of appreciation and tiny moments that brought her joy.
Her message to me?"Thank you for this great idea."
It stopped me in my tracks. Because while it may seem simple, that jar represents something we so often forget in HR:
That we are allowed to pause.
That we are allowed to celebrate.
That we are allowed to feel joy, even while holding space for others.
The Hidden Emotional Load of HR
If you’re in HR, you know how much of yourself you pour into your work. You’re the one employees confide in when things go wrong. You’re navigating policies, people, politics, and often doing it behind the scenes. You’re celebrating others' milestones while quietly ignoring your own.
Over time, that quiet self-erasure chips away at your energy and spirit. You don’t always notice it… until you’re empty.
This is why I recommend a gratitude practice, such as a gratitude jar, to every HR professional I coach.
Because this work is heavy. But it’s also beautiful. And if you don’t capture the good, you’ll only remember the weight.
Why Gratitude Matters, Especially in HR
Let’s dig deeper into the four core reasons cultivating gratitude is a non-negotiable for those of us in people-first roles:
1. It protects your mental health and well-being
Gratitude isn't just a mindset, it's medicine. Research indicates that regularly expressing gratitude can lower cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone), enhance sleep quality, and even reduce anxiety and depression.
In HR, where emotional exhaustion is a real and often an unspoken reality, a daily gratitude practice can create an emotional buffer. It doesn’t erase the hard stuff, but it helps you meet it with a fuller tank.
2. It helps you reflect on progress, not just problems
The HR inbox never says “well done.”It demands, critiques, and escalates.
Gratitude invites you to step back and say:
I handled that difficult conversation with grace.
I helped a team member get clarity on their future.
I advocated for someone when they couldn’t do it themselves.
You start noticing how far you’ve come instead of how much is left to do.
3. It builds emotional resilience in a tough profession
HR professionals are often the emotional shock absorbers of the organization. Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring reality; it means creating mental bookmarks of hope, impact, and purpose.
Over time, these bookmarks form the emotional scaffolding you need to lead with compassion without collapsing from it.
4. It creates space for joy, even in the hard seasons
Joy isn’t a luxury. It’s fuel. We need it to show up fully for others.
Your gratitude jar can hold moments like:
“Someone finally said thank you today.”
“I took my lunch break and didn’t answer emails.”
“I helped someone feel seen.”
These are not small things. They are sacred reminders that you are making a difference.
A Joyful Invitation: Start Your Own Gratitude Jar
You don’t need fancy stationery. You don’t need a Pinterest board. You just need a jar. Or a box. Or a folder on your phone.
At the end of each workday or week, write one thing you're grateful for. Something you did well. A moment that warmed your heart. A reminder that you matter, too.
You’ll be amazed at what you uncover after a month. Or six. Or a year. It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence.
Today's Coaching Prompt:
Take five minutes today and ask yourself: “What is one moment I’m proud of from this week that I haven’t celebrated?”
Now, write it down. Put it in a jar. Or better yet, share it with someone. Like me. I’d love to hear it.
You are not just managing HR. You are making humanity happen at work. Don’t let your brilliance go unnoticed, not even by you.
If you’d like to build more rituals like this into your HR journey, my coaching programs are designed exactly for that. We go beyond burnout and into brilliance, together.
Let’s thrive.
With gratitude,
Julie
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