In this episode of Conversations That Heal, I’m talking about what it means to choose gratitude when life doesn’t feel good.

Gratitude doesn’t mean denying sadness, anger, grief, relationship endings, financial stress, or disappointment. It means recognizing that even in difficult seasons, there can still be something worth holding onto.

I share pieces of my own therapy journey, including the fear I once had about telling family secrets and the freedom I experienced when I finally had a safe place to be heard without judgment. I also share a lesson from therapy that changed how I approached my healing: pain can help us understand our behavior, but eventually we have to take responsibility for what we do with that pain.

I reflect on navigating profound loss, including losing a baby and my mother, and a season when the weight of everything I was carrying became incredibly heavy. I talk honestly about experiencing suicidal thoughts and why I believe it is so important to stay, reach for support, and give yourself the opportunity to see what can exist beyond the pain you're experiencing today.

I also share practical ways to begin choosing gratitude: write down the names of people who have shown up for you, notice the everyday things your body allows you to experience, thank God for what you still have, remember the times He has shown up before, identify what you love about yourself, and revisit memories that remind you that your story contains joy too.

Gratitude doesn't require us to pretend everything is okay.

Sometimes gratitude simply says, “This is hard, but I can still find something to thank God for today.”

I close this episode with prayer for anyone who is struggling to find gratitude in their current season.

🎵 Praise Song of the Week: “Because of You” by Tamia

https://youtu.be/xTFBocxo1DU?si=2u1eDuWuXLQo60tZ

🎙️ Conversations That Heal — Healing One Conversation at a Time.