Leading With Grace: Gratitude as the Ultimate Glow-Up
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
By Montrece McNeill Ransom, JD, MPH, PCC, BCC
Gratitude is the highest frequency. It turns ordinary moments into something sacred and shifts beauty from the surface to the soul. When I pause to be thankful for who I am, what I have overcome, and who I am still becoming, I shine in a way no product or filter ever could.
As a leadership coach and belonging strategist, I help women leaders step into the next phase of their lives with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Whether we are talking about work, relationships, or identity, the foundation is always gratitude. Belonging begins within. When you feel at home in yourself, you show up with authenticity that draws others in. And with the world as loud and unsettled as it is, grounding yourself in gratitude is more than self-care; it is survival. Gratitude helps quiet the noise so we can hear our own truth and stay rooted in who we are.
I often tell my clients that confidence is gratitude in motion. When you appreciate your own brilliance, you show up differently. Shoulders back, chin lifted, eyes bright with possibility. It is that quiet knowing, I am thankful for me, that changes everything.
For me, gratitude lives in small rituals that anchor my day. I light a candle before coaching sessions as a reminder to be present and grateful for the sacred work of transformation. During my workday, I swipe on red lipstick, not because I need it to feel beautiful, but because it connects me to the women who came before me and reminds me to carry their confidence forward. That simple act of color becomes a moment of gratitude and a way to honor their legacy.
Gratitude also shapes how I coach. In my STRUT™ 1:1 Intensive, we start by reconnecting to the frequency of gratitude. We pause to notice what is already working and what is already beautiful. Growth does not begin with fixing what is broken. It begins with appreciating what is already good.
Then we visualize your next-level self, the version of you who is living in full color and full confidence. Gratitude becomes the bridge between who you are and who you are becoming. I ask clients to thank that next-level self in advance for her courage, consistency, and grace. Gratitude closes the distance between now and next.
Here are a few gratitude practices I love:
Begin each morning by naming three things you appreciate about your body.
Choose one item that connects you to someone you admire.
End your day by writing one sentence of thanks to yourself.
Once a week, express gratitude out loud to someone who inspires you.
These practices are not about perfection. They are about presence. They remind us that gratitude is both wellness and leadership. It grounds us and helps us show up with confidence and generosity.
Beauty, gratitude, and belonging go hand in hand. When we notice the simple things such as sunlight on our skin, a shared laugh, or our reflection after a long day, we remember that real beauty comes from appreciation, not perfection. Belonging deepens that beauty.
It reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves and that gratitude is often the doorway back to connection, purpose, and peace.
Because true glamour is not about what you wear. It is about what you carry: grace, gratitude, and a deep sense of belonging. Gratitude roots that belonging. It reminds you that wherever you go, you already have everything within you to feel at home.
Connect With Montrece
Comments