85 | Gratitude, Grit, and Finding the Good: The Mindset That Makes Homesteading Work

In today’s episode, we talk about the mindset that actually makes farming, homesteading and livestock work sustainable. Not ease, not perfection — but gratitude, grit, and learning to find the good even when the hard days hit. I’m sharing two real-life stories from our ranch that shaped how I approach challenges, and practical ways you can apply this mindset on your own homestead.

What You’ll Learn

• Why gratitude is a daily management tool, not a once-a-year feeling
• How accepting “hard” as normal keeps you steady with livestock
• The value in finding the good inside messy or frustrating situations
• What a difficult kidding season taught me about leadership and problem-solving
• How a major off-grid setback revealed long-term clarity we wouldn’t have gained otherwise
• Practical ways to build a resilient, realistic homesteading mindset

Key Takeaways

• Gratitude keeps you grounded, especially when things go sideways
• Hard days aren’t a sign you’re failing — they’re part of learning and building competence
• Finding the good in a situation helps you move forward instead of getting stuck
• Livestock and off-grid life will test you; mindset determines whether you burn out or grow
• Long-term sustainability depends more on steadiness than skill

Related Episodes

• 02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully
• 15 | The Most Important Lesson We Learned Going Off-Grid, and How You Can Do the Same Thing to Simplify Your Off-Grid Plan
• 30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress
• 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep

All the Best, Millie

Resources & Links:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts then grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
• Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
• Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
• Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
• Email me: [e-mail]
• See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.