Health Benefits of Practicing Gratitude
Did you know that a daily gratitude practice actually has significant health benefits? It creates a physiological change in your body that activates your parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as your body’s resting state. While Thanksgiving is a great time of year to start practicing gratitude, a daily practice has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, reducing blood pressure, relieving stress, and improving your sleep, just to name a few.
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
― Marcel Proust
So, how do you practice gratitude each day? It can be as simple as a 15 minute meditation focussing on your breath and thinking of a few things that have been going really well in your life lately. This is a quick practice that can easily be added into your morning or evening routine. Journaling is another great way to identify and focus your mind on things you are grateful for, rather than the things that you lack. Use some of the prompts below to help inspire your next journaling session.
What is going really well in your life right now?
What is something you’re really proud of?
Who do you enjoy spending time around?
What/who makes you feel calm?
What makes you feel confident?
When do you feel the most abundant?
What was a joyful experience you had recently?
Write about a funny story you recently experienced.
When do you feel most connected to the people you love?
The possibilities are endless. I’ve found that once you start writing and are in that state of mind, the gratitude starts flowing and you think of more and more things you’re thankful for. Make it a point to implement into your morning or evening routine this week, start with 5 minutes and I think you’ll be surprised with the outcome.
Happy Thanksgiving!