This post was written in joyful collaboration with Darlene Cunha MMHC, BSN, CENP-RN, WCS Caritas Coach, CSSBB.

Have you ever paused long enough to notice the power of a single moment?

The kind that shifts a conversation, lifts a spirit, or restores someone’s sense of worth. In healthcare, it's easy to race past these moments. But what if you didn’t?

What if you chose to lead differently - not just with strategy and metrics, but with heart?

This article is an invitation. Not to a program. Not to a checklist. But to a movement.

A movement of leaders who choose to lead with gratitude, hope, and presence. Leaders who understand that transformation doesn’t always come from sweeping change. Movements often begin with a micro-moment.

Gratitude: A Strategic Leadership Skill

Gratitude isn’t fluff. It’s fuel. It’s not a nicety, it’s a necessity.

Neuroscience confirms what many of us have felt intuitively: gratitude rewires the brain for resilience, connection, and creativity. It strengthens relationships. It builds trust. It creates cultures where people feel safe enough to speak up, show up, and stay. In healthcare, where burnout and moral injury are real, gratitude is a lifeline. When leaders model gratitude, they don’t just boost morale—they change the climate. They shift the energy in the room. They make people feel seen.

Try this: At the end of your day, ask yourself: Who made a difference today? Did I tell them?

Micro-Moments: The Hidden Power of Presence

We’ve all had them. Moments when someone looked us in the eye and really saw us. When a colleague paused to say, “I'm grateful for you.” When a leader noticed our effort and named it out loud.

These are micro-moments. They may be small, but in reality, they’re seismic. They create belonging. They build bridges. They remind us that we matter. Leaders who become “moment makers” don’t wait for the perfect time. They seize the moment in front of them. They pause. They notice. They express.

A Simple Practice: Pause. Notice. Express.

What if you begin adopting this simple practice—you can do it in a matter of seconds, and yet it makes a world of difference.

Pause long enough to be present.
Notice what’s good, what’s working, who’s trying.
Express appreciation - out loud, in writing, or with a gesture.

Hope: The Foundation of Flourishing

Hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a leadership imperative. Hope fuels perseverance. It sparks innovation. It heals. In healthcare, hope is often the first casualty of stress, bureaucracy, and exhaustion. But leaders can restore it. Not by pretending everything is fine—but by naming what’s hard and pointing to what’s possible. Hope is contagious. When leaders carry it, others catch it.

Reflect on this: What gives you hope today? How can you share that hope with someone else?

Gratitude + Hope = Human Flourishing

Gratitude and hope aren’t just emotional states. They’re strategic tools. Together, they create conditions for human flourishing. They help people rise. They help teams thrive. And they’re not abstract. They’re actionable.

Tool to try: The Daily Gratitude Examen. At the end of each day, reflect:

Where did I see goodness?
Who made a difference?
What am I grateful for?
What do I hope for tomorrow?

Community and Connection: The Invitation

This is a movement. Not a moment. Not a trend. It’s a way of leading that centers humanity. That honors dignity. That builds connection. We’re inviting you to join us. To become a moment maker. To lead with gratitude. To spark hope. To create micro-moments that matter.

Will You Be a Moment Maker?

In healthcare, leadership isn’t just about strategy, it’s about heart. It’s about noticing the moments that matter and choosing to lead with gratitude and hope.

Micro-moments - those small, intentional acts of presence—can transform teams, cultures, and lives.

Join Us

We’re inviting you to join the movement. Start today: Pause. Notice. Express.

Start a gratitude habit.
Share a micro-moment.
Invite your team to reflect together.
Let’s lead with heart and make moments that matter.

Will you be a moment maker today? Who knows the impact it will have...

I hope you know, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

#GratitudeLeadership #HopeInHealthcare #MomentMakers

Moment Makers: Leading with Gratitude, Hope and Heart