December; a month for Gratitude

It seems like every December I want to talk about gratitude. Perhaps it's the deep reflection that comes at the close of a year that offers the space for gratitude to rise to the surface. Or maybe it's spending time with loved ones that reminds us how special these moments are and to not only embrace each other, but embrace the present as well. But most likely, I love talking about it because it has a sensational effect on the body. See, when we practice gratitude, we lower stress and the cortisol response (which is something we're always talking about around here), so maybe gratitude is more than we think it is.  

Of all the definitions given, I really do like Webster's the best because it lifts it out of the ordinary "appreciation" or "thankfulness"  and tells us it is a "state of being grateful". This eludes to the fact that gratitude is more than just a Thank You, it's an elevated emotional state and when we have an elevated emotional state, we have a healing climate. Not just within the body, but also within our family, community, and planet. Gratitude helps us be the change we wish to see in the world. Perhaps the power gratitude holds is its ability to take a seed and make it a forest. 

Come December, we can look back at all we have contributed this year and all the ways we have grown and feel grateful for that. I often recommend my clients do a daily or weekly gratitude list but a nice big one at the end of the year feels like a beautiful way to not only reflect but also move us graciously into the new year. 

 If lists aren't your thing, I invite you to try a few of these simple ways to incorporate gratitude into your life as we close 2024. 

1. Hand write thank you notes to hosts and gift givers. Everyone loves a genuine personal thank you for their offerings. 
2. Mindfulness; notice the things around you! Are you in a cozy home? Are you eating good food? Notice your breath, your clean water, your comfortable clothes and feel grateful for those things we often take for granted. 
3.  Feel into it; when we tap into our hearts, we create a cohearance in the body, a synching of the systems, and this escalates us toward wellness.  
4. Nourish with healthy food; healthy food feels different in the body than junk food. When you can nourish your cells, you nourish the mind and the emotions as well. It's all connected, remember? 
5. Simply state "I AM GRATEFUL"  The simplist way to feel grateful is to acknowledge that you ARE grateful. You can say this to yourself silently or share it with someone else and hopefully spread some good vibes. 

As we close this year and count our blessings, please know that you are one of mine. From the bottom to the top of my heart, thank you for being here.

In good health,

Amanda