Thoughtful Thursday…4 ways gratitude improves health and well-being
Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday. This GreenNote Fitness newsletter mindfully gathers and distills useful information that is supportive to our journey. It is my mission to educate, inspire, and propel you into action that moves you towards your goals and life of purpose. Take control of your journey today.
Taking a deep breath in, arms overhead, reaching for the sky, I begin my daily morning gratitude practice. Arms come down then back overhead, another deep breath and thoughts of what I’m thankful for, who can I pray for, and who can I serve today. Feeling peace and energy, I’m ready to begin the day.
How can something so simple be so powerful?
Gratitude helps in profound ways with physical, psychological, sleep, and brain health. Let’s take a look at some specifics and then how to incorporate a daily gratitude practice into your life.
Physical Benefits of Gratitude
Grateful people have fewer aches and pains, exercise more, and report being healthier than other people
Grateful people are more likely to care for their health
Gratitude has been shown to strengthen the immune system
Psychological Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression by boosting production of serotonin and dopamine, similar to anti-depressants
Gratitude increases blood flow and activity in the hypothalamus, which produces feel-good hormones such as oxytocin
Higher levels of gratitude are associated with higher levels of personal well-being, greater life satisfaction, and lower levels of psychological distress
Sleep Benefits of Gratitude
Expressing gratitude significantly improves sleep quality and reduces fatigue
Individuals who express gratitude more often sleep better and longer than those who don’t
Brain Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude promotes profound and long-lasting neural effects that allow you to feel the emotion more easily and quickly in the future
Gratitude enhances the ability to process emotions, express high levels of empathy, and deeply connect with others
Practicing Gratitude
With so many positive benefits for the body, mind,and spirit, it would lend itself to incorporating a daily gratitude practice into our lives. The easiest way to do this is to fully embrace it and make it a priority.
My daily practice begins the night before prior to going to bed, I write in my journal three things I was greatful for that day. Sometimes just that awareness of the smallest things can have a very big impact. For example, I may write that I was thankful for going for a walk and feeling the sun upon my face or hearing my husband laugh.
Going to sleep with that feeling is very peaceful. It makes the morning begin with a deep gratitude. My whole morning routine is centered around gratitude. From taking in deep breaths, to gentle yoga poses, it is all done with that feeling of gratitude and thankfulness for the day and naming a person I can pray for, help, or serve that day.
Try it now - what are three things you are grateful for? See it, feel it, name it. Now breathe.
I am hopeful you find something useful in this newsletter. Each week I am grateful for you taking time from your day to read these. It is my hope that you take something from it and incorporate it into your life.
Thank you...
Enjoy your journey,
Lisa Schaffer
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Did you miss last week’s newsletter on 3 tips to avoid gaining fat this holiday season ……?
