Recently I have been invited to give two presentations. One on Gratitude and another on Mind-Body-Spirit Tools to Optimize Holistic Health Coaching (you can view on the link below). Through the lens of my pharmacist background, I am struck by the enormous benefits gratitude gives to our health and wellbeing. It is FREE and available for each of us to incorporate into our daily life. Do you have an intentional gratitude practice? Here are ideas for you:
- Jot down blessings in a notebook.
- Recall 3 things you are grateful for at the end of each day.
- Thank a friend face-to-face, send an email, or snail mail card.
- Sit in quiet reflection to contemplate what you appreciate about your life.
- Spend time in nature.
This month of Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to increase appreciation. Did you know that being grateful:
improves health:
- lowers blood pressure,
- improves immune function,
- reduces cardiac inflammation,
- increases happiness,
- decrease depression
- creates more stress resilient
- facilitates better sleep
improves relationships:
- is a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people
- strengthens social ties and self-worth
improves emotional resilience:
- blocks toxic emotions (envy, resentment, regret)
- invites us to celebrate the present
improves organizations:
- proactively improve a company’s culture as giving and receiving appreciation are both beneficial and vital to a high-functioning organization
- improves an organization’s productivity, profitability, quality, loyalty, safety, absenteeism, and other cost and performance metrics
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. It also increases our readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. It cultivates creating a life we love personally, relationally and professionally. What we focus on grows! Spend time savoring what you are grateful for. Share in the moment verbally when you are grateful. For me, even during times of heartache, practicing gratitude supports my inner and outer healing.
