If You're Numb to the Pain, You're Numb to the Joy Too

What if gratitude isn’t just a feel-good practice—but a path to healing the parts of you that still hurt? In this powerful episode of What the Shift, Gia sits down with Dr. Peggy DeLong, a psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author known as The Gratitude Psychologist. But Peggy’s not here to talk about keeping a cute journal. She’s here to reframe everything you’ve been told about gratitude, emotional pain, and what it really takes to reconnect with joy. After losing her fiancé and father just six weeks apart, Peggy didn’t bypass grief—she met it. And what she found in a simple cup of hazelnut coffee became the foundation of her life’s work. Together, we explore: Why gratitude isn’t about ignoring pain—it’s about holding space for it How emotional avoidance numbs your joy as much as your grief The real reason high achievers stay stuck in burnout and disconnection Simple, science-backed gratitude practices that rewire the brain Why “fine” isn’t a feeling—and how to reconnect to what’s real This isn’t about forced positivity. This is about integration, healing, and finally allowing yourself to feel—so you can live. Tune in now and discover why the emotions you’ve been avoiding are the exact doorway to the joy you’ve been missing. This one hits deep—because you can be grateful for your life and still want more from it. Learn more about Dr. Peggy: drpeggydelong.com