Finding Hope Through Gratitude with Abigail Somma
From Empathetic Presence by Lee Bonvissuto
August 6, 2025 · 36 min
About this episode
Lee Bonvissuto and Abigail Somma discuss the role of gratitude in finding hope during challenging times and its application in personal and workplace settings.
In times of rising authoritarianism and social upheaval, how do we find hope without falling into toxic positivity? This week, I sit down with my dear friend Abigail Somma, founder of Gratitude Buddies and mindfulness teacher, to explore gratitude as a tool for resistance and refocusing. Abbie taught me about loving-kindness meditation nearly a decade ago, and her approach to gratitude as a practice—not just a feeling—completely shifted how I understand presence and self-compassion. In this conversation, we explore: Why gratitude becomes accessible in moments of crisis (and why it's harder during prolonged depression) How to practice loving-kindness toward people who disagree with us The difference between empathy and toxic positivity How workplace gratitude has evolved from transaction to inner wellness—and what comes next Gratitude Buddies: a platform for skill-sharing and community building beyond traditional capitalism Why we need "compassionate wise action" instead of judgment Using gratitude as a refocusing tool in moments of conflict Abigail Somma (Abbie) is the founder of Gratitude Buddies, a platform where people swap small joys and meaningful skills. She…
People in this episode
Guest: Abigail Somma
Topics covered
- gratitude
- mindfulness
- emotional wellbeing
- toxic positivity
- loving-kindness meditation
- workplace wellness
Keywords
- hope
- resistance
- self-compassion
- compassionate wise action
- community building
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Gratitude Buddies
Books & works: Finding Hope Through Gratitude, Scary Mommy, Gratitude Buddies
Places: Vienna, US
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