When Gratitude Lists Don’t Work...

If Your Gratitude List Feels Stale, You’re Not Alone

We’ve all heard the advice:“Just make a gratitude list.”
 

Write down a few things you’re thankful for and—poof!—you’re supposed to feel lighter, calmer, more grounded.

But what happens when it doesn’t work?

What if you make the list and… nothing shifts?
What if you still feel anxious or overwhelmed?
What if gratitude feels like one more thing you’re supposed to get right?

Recently, I found myself in exactly that place. I woke up under what I call “the dark cloud”—that heavy, anxious feeling that shows up sometimes for no clear reason. I tried all my usual tools. The things that almost always help. And yet the cloud stayed with me.

So I went outside.
I walked.
I breathed.
I tried to get curious.

And somewhere in the middle of that walk, something interesting happened. Not a dramatic transformation, but a small, unexpected shift that made me rethink the difference between gratitude and appreciation—and how each one plays a very different role in how we feel.

It made me realize that sometimes gratitude is a tall order when you’re struggling. Sometimes it asks too much of a nervous system that’s already stretched thin. And sometimes, there's another way in… a gentler way… but it’s often overlooked.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

✨ The subtle shift that helped me feel more present and open to gratitude
✨ A simple experiment you can try this week

If you’ve been feeling off, overwhelmed, or emotionally crispy, this conversation might give you a softer way to come back to yourself—without forcing anything or pretending you’re grateful when you’re not.

Listen to the full episode to hear what changed for me and how you can try it too.