Be more grateful

The Physiological Benefits of Gratitude

When we take the time to think about what we are grateful for in our lives, our brain releases dopamine, and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters that make us feel good. The parasympathetic or calming part of the nervous system is triggered, which can have protective benefits on the body, including decreasing the stress hormone cortisol. It has even been shown to increase oxytocin, the bonding hormone involved in relationships that makes us feel comforted and safe.

Feeling and expressing gratitude is the antidote to fear too. The threatening messages from your amygdala [fear center of the brain] and your brainstem's anxious instincts are cut off. It has been scientifically shown that the brain cannot simultaneously be in a state of appreciation and fear.

The more you practice gratitude, the more attuned you are to it, and the more you can enjoy its many benefits.

Ways to implement gratitude in your life:

-Keep a gratitude journal.

-Think of what you are grateful for every night before you go to sleep.

-Visualize yourself saying thanks to a person you are thankful for.

-Do a gratitude walk. Notice the beauty around you.

-Write a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life.

-Place your feet on the ground every morning, and be grateful for your life. For another day on this earth and your wonderful friends and family.

- Habit stack (think about what you are grateful for while brushing your teeth, etc.)