The Quiet Power of Gratitude during tough times
It’s been a tough season for a lot of people. Just last month, there were over 150,000 job cuts. Across many different industries, teams are shrinking, roles are shifting, and it feels like the expectations keeps moving.
Headlines call it a “jobless boom.” Companies are still profitable, but people are feeling the impact. Jobs are more than paychecks... they’re tied to identity, confidence, and belonging.
So how do we stay steady when the world feels uncertain? For me, it always comes back to gratitude. Not the “just be positive” kind, but the grounded kind... the kind that helps us see clearly, connect deeply, and move forward.
Gratitude allows the pain of loss
Layoffs shake everyone (HR friends out there, I know how hard it is to deliver the message too!) They challenge our sense of security and self-worth. Gratitude doesn’t ask us to ignore that. It lets us sit with the truth of what’s hard and still see what remains. It reminds us: I am still here. Its going to be ok.
Gratitude reconnects us
When everything feels uncertain, it’s easy to isolate. But gratitude brings us back to “we.” It helps us notice the people who reach out, the coworkers who check in, the small acts of kindnesses that remind us we’re not alone.
Gratitude changes the story
A job title can disappear overnight, but our curiosity, our creativity, our capacity to learn... those stay. Gratitude helps us focus on what we can shape next instead of only what we’ve lost.
Gratitude fuels leadership
If you’re leading a team right now, gratitude might be your greatest tool. It creates trust when people need it most. It reminds others that they are seen, valued, and believed in. That kind of leadership is essential and not only will it increase performance... it can builds hope.
I’ve learned this lesson personally. I used to chase perfection, believing that if I did everything right, I’d feel secure. But what really created stability wasn’t control... it was gratitude. I relied on people who believed in me. I learned from those messy moments.
So if you’re reading this during a season of change, I invite you to pause and write down three things you’re grateful for this week. Then choose one small action you can take because of that gratitude... send a note, reconnect, do a random act of kindness.
Gratitude won’t fix everything, but it changes how we see everything. It roots us in what matters and helps us move forward with a little more hope, connection, and calm.
Check out the full article at my Substack.
