by Debbie Zuckerman, Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach
A daily dose of gratitude can shift your mind and body from a stress response to more of a relaxed state. It can help you manage the ups and downs of life and achieve a more regulated nervous system.
Recall a recent time when you were not feeling great, either emotionally, mentally, and/or physically. Maybe you were stressed about a relationship or work situation. Perhaps you were being hard on yourself and ruminating about a recent social situation. Or was there a time when you were feeling ill and unable to get things done on your to-do list? Whatever the situation, a little bit of gratitude can go a long way. Establishing a daily practice can help strengthen your ‘gratitude muscle’ so that it becomes more accessible during the most challenging times.
Try this exercise to explore or modify an existing gratitude practice:
Who or what in your life (let’s call them “glimmers”) brings you a consistent feeling of comfort, safety, love, peace, joy, appreciation, hope, and/or purpose?
You may think of a person, animal, object, memory, place, activity/hobby, or more!
Write down your glimmers for daily reference so you can revisit them anytime.
Access self-compassion by being kind and comforting to yourself.
A gratitude practice is not just for the tough times. Acknowledging your glimmers during the “good” times is a healthy way to embrace what’s going well in your life. This approach to gratitude can reinforce your glimmers even more for the times you need them the most. And remember to practice a healthy dose of self-compassion as well!
Visit The Neuroscience of Gratitude by PositivePsychology.com to learn more about the wellbeing benefits of gratitude.
Need help getting started?
Schedule a session or contact me at debbie@centerpiecewellness.com to learn how to incorporate gratitude, and other invaluable practices, like self-compassion, into your life to feel more calm, joy, and peace.