Uncertainty is stressful and perhaps even harmful to our health , research suggests, and it can drive us to cling to our social groups to the exclusion of others. But a new study has uncovered a surprising upside to feeling uncertain: It might drive us to appreciate the little things in life.

Savoring isn’t the only potential upside to feeling uncertain. For people who are less well off, confronting a chaotic environment can actually drive them to prioritize community . In these ways and perhaps others, our brains try to protect us from the unpleasant but unavoidable uncertainty of life.