Life abroad is presented as the final dream for better jobs, better schools, and better opportunities. But many Nigerians quickly discover the reality of the struggle, but choose to deploy Thanksgiving as superpower.
Bills don’t wait. Loneliness sits quietly in the corner. Expectations from home pile up like laundry. And even when you’re doing your best, you often feel like you’re still behind.
That’s when intentional and daily gratitude becomes the reset often needed. Thanksgiving as superpower, is not only a spiritual grounding, but a survival tool. It not only reminds you of grace when you’re frustrated, but helps you recognize progress when the journey feels slow.
Thanksgiving As Superpower
Amara moved to Chicago, with big dreams, a few years ago. What she imagined then was soft snow, smooth systems, and a life that functioned like clock-work. But real life came knocking fast.
She ended up working two jobs, and often ate noodles for weeks on end. By taking the bus everywhere, she still managed to send money home so that her younger ones could continue school. She often asked herself: “God, is this really the abroad I prayed for?”
One winter morning, she broke down in tears, after slipping on ice and dropping her groceries in the snow. But an elderly Caribbean woman who helped her gather the items said: “Sweetheart, life will always give you something to complain about. But you will only grow when you count what you have left — not what you’ve lost.”
That was when something shifted for Amara that day. Her life wasn’t perfect, but it was progressing. She knew she wasn’t where she wanted to be, but she wasn’t where she used to be. She began to use thanksgiving as superpower.
Gratitude Matters Much
In diaspora life, the comparison game is relentless. From visa approvals to pay cheques, it often feels like everyone else is sprinting while you’re just catching your breath. This is where gratitude changes the focus to unnoticed progress: new skills, networks, resilience, and financial discipline.
Thanksgiving as superpower, breaks the comparison trap of social media, while reminding you that your race is unique. Instead of measuring yourself against others’ highlight reels, you begin to honour your own unfolding story—progress that may be quiet, slow, or hidden, but still deeply significant.
Gratitude also grants emotional permission to rest, and protects mental health. It shifts the mind from scarcity to abundance, and from anxiety to calm. By pausing in gratitude and declaring ‘e go better’, thanksgiving becomes an act of freedom for many Nigerians, even in hardship.
Beyond emotion, science affirms the power of thanksgiving. Daily gratitude, through journaling or reflection, can boost empathy, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep. Such wellness is necessary for those navigating high‑stakes life abroad,
Gratitude is a bridge that strengthens identity and spirituality, while reconnecting you to God, community, and purpose. A simple “thank you” to a landlord, a church friend, or even the stranger who held a door can be the first thread in weaving belonging.
Using Thanksgiving As Superpower
Gratitude grows not through dramatic gestures but through deliberate, consistent practice. It can be cultivated in simple ways that anchor daily life and shift perspective.
One practice is the morning gratitude list. Naming three to five small blessings (count your blessings)—warmth, reliable transport, or the gift of new mercies—sets a tone of appreciation before the day begins. These acknowledgments remind that even ordinary comforts carry meaning.
Celebrating small wins is another step. Milestones such as a first credit score, a first winter endured, a first promotion, or even cooking a proper meal in one’s own kitchen deserve recognition. Each achievement, however modest, signals growth and resilience.
Voice notes of thanksgiving add a dynamic layer. Recording brief reflections of gratitude, whether directed to oneself or to God, can lift energy and reinforce positivity. Spoken words carry weight, embedding gratitude more deeply than silent thoughts.
The gratitude jar offers a tangible record. Writing one good thing each week and placing it inside creates a reservoir of encouragement. On difficult days, revisiting these notes provides perspective and reassurance that joy is present even in small moments.
Finally, sharing gratitude with someone back home strengthens connection. A simple message of acknowledging faithfulness and growth, can keep individuals grounded in community and legacy. These practices, together, become a powerful lifestyle.
Gratitude Is Strategy
The Nigerian journey abroad is filled with sacrifice, growth, and silent battles. But gratitude makes the burden lighter through reflection, celebration and connection.
Thanksgiving as superpower, does not erase challenges, but provides the clarity to face them.
It won’t remove challenges, but it gives you the courage to face them.
What’s one small thing you’re grateful for today in your diaspora life? Comment below—I’d love to celebrate with you.
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