Most of us find it easy to be grateful when life is flowing smoothly. But when the winds pick up and challenges, disappointments, or chaos blow through, it’s natural to brace ourselves, tighten our grip, and wish it all away. Yet, what if the very storms we try to avoid are the ones that shape our strength, reveal our resilience, and bring us back to our center?

In this episode, the Soul Empowerment Team explores the spiritual and emotional power of finding gratitude in the storm. We look at how our instinct to resist pain and control outcomes can amplify suffering, and how practicing gratitude amid turbulence helps us stay grounded, expand compassion, and access peace even when life feels messy.

What makes this idea so powerful is that it’s not just a spiritual concept; it’s supported by science. Numerous studies have shown that practicing gratitude consistently rewires our brain, strengthening neural pathways associated with well-being and reducing activity in areas linked to stress and anxiety. Even more compelling is that these benefits are most pronounced when we express gratitude for challenging experiences. Actively finding something to appreciate in a difficult situation shifts our physiological state, lowering cortisol levels, improving heart rate variability, and boosting our immune response. This demonstrates that saying “thank you” for the storm isn’t about denying pain, but about engaging a powerful physiological tool to navigate it with greater resilience and health.

So the question is: what if the storm itself is not an obstacle, but an essential part of the journey? What if the challenges we face are precisely what cultivate depth, clarity, and unshakable inner strength? Here’s a snapshot of what we cover:

How Resistance Fuels Suffering

Often, it’s not the challenge itself that causes the most pain, but our resistance to it. When we tense up mentally and emotionally, we amplify our distress. Learning to relax into discomfort, rather than brace against it, can significantly reduce the weight of our struggles.

Releasing the Need to Control Outcomes

So much of our anxiety arises from clinging to specific expectations. When we loosen our grip on how we think things should be, we open ourselves to the lessons and opportunities hidden within unexpected turns. Trusting the process allows us to move with life rather than against it.

Forgiveness and Pre-Forgiveness

Holding onto resentment only deepens our wounds. By practicing forgiveness—both for others and ourselves—we free up energy that can be directed toward growth. Pre-forgiveness, the act of releasing judgment before a wound even occurs, can prevent much unnecessary pain.

Seeing the Humanity (and Divinity) in the “Villain”

It’s easy to label those who challenge us as adversaries. But when we look deeper, we often find that their actions stem from their own pain or fear. Recognizing their humanity helps us respond with compassion rather than reactivity, transforming conflict into connection.

Turning Turbulence Into Transformation

Every challenge carries the potential for growth. By shifting our perspective, we can begin to see storms as catalysts—clearing away what no longer serves us and making space for new beginnings. Adversity, met with gratitude, becomes a teacher rather than a tormentor.

Check out the recording—and please remember to leave a comment in the discussion section below.

When we learn to be grateful for the storm, we stop fearing the weather. We remember that even the strongest winds can bring clarity, renewal, and a deeper trust in our own resilience. Life’s difficulties no longer define us; instead, they refine us. Watch the recording and learn as we explore how to find stillness within the chaos and uncover the sacred lessons hidden in life’s most challenging moments.

About the Team

Scott Holmes: Intuitive Energy Practitioner and Transformational Coach using techniques to turn pain and adversity into insight and empowerment. An Energy Alchemist who helps create divine harmony within men and women allowing them to heal and maintain their true path in this life. www.RScottHolmes.com

Sara Jane: Vocal Reiki Master Teacher & Practitioner. Having worked on herself and healed her own early years trauma and hurt, Sara now supports clients, from her own experiences, to heal their own trauma and live a more fulfilling and happy life. www.VocalReiki.com

Gayle Nowak: Visibility Coach who shifts world-changing healers, lightworkers and New Earth leaders from outdated patterns into new possibilities. She weaves multiple modalities to guide clients and audiences into their truest expression so they can honor and carry out their soul mission. www.GayleNowak.com