When you grew up in an environment where connection meant danger, your nervous system learned to associate other people with threat. Maybe reaching out for comfort got you dismissed. Or criticized. Or hurt. Maybe the adults in your life were unpredictable, so you learned it was safer to handle things alone.

Uncertainty is part of being human. We've always lived with unknowns. But right now, many of us feel a particular kind of stress because uncertainty is infused with fear.

When your mind is flooded with stress, loss, or disappointment, it’s normal to draw a blank. Gratitude requires presence, and presence is hard when you’re exhausted or overwhelmed. Start small. You don’t have to feel grateful for your whole life, just for a single moment.