If you’re feeling threatened, you can’t feel thankful. Biology won’t allow it. Your brain doesn’t unlock gratitude when it’s busy trying to protect you — that protective state might show up as stress or irritation. That’s Survival Mode.
But thankfulness isn’t just a positive feeling. It’s a biological shift into Safety Mode. When you breathe deeper, or slower, when you take a pause and notice that you’re okay, your nervous system stops bracing. Only then can gratitude register, easing your mind and lowering your stress.
So remember, Survival Mode and Safety Mode can’t run in your system at the same time.
So choose the one that gives you your power back.
