While I was at Miraval, the amazing wellness resort and spa in Tucson, Arizona, my daughter and I sat in on a class called “The Gift of Gratitude.” I wanted to share some of the insights we learned about how to express gratitude, to make your days a little brighter.
At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect and was more interested in spa treatments and exercise classes than motivational lectures. However, we were both grateful we walked in and participated. It set the tone for our time at the resort and was a great help when I returned to normal.
Our speaker was Lisa Frank who is a wellness counselor and yoga instructor. I also took her Slow Flow Yoga class.
How does being grateful improve your well-being?
Studies show that expressing gratitude increases our immune functions, lowers blood pressure, and boosts our energy, enthusiasm, and alertness. It also decreases our cortisol levels, which causes us to get belly fat as we age. I must have an enormous build-up of cortisol because my tummy is in its third trimester. It’s a result of decades of stress and my fight-or-flight reaction to it.
When we are grateful for what we have, it lifts our mood, our level of happiness, sense of joy, and enhances our relationships. We are better able to connect and contribute back to society.
Write your thoughts in a Gratitude Journal
Planners with a Purpose is a company that sells beautiful Gratitude journals with inspiring quotes, fill-in-the-blank pages to write what you are grateful for, and reflections you have each day.
Find the Planners with a Purpose gratitude journal on Amazon, here.
Gratitude is wine for the soul. Go on. Get drunk. – Rumi
Try these methods to express your gratitude
- Start and end your day by saying “thank you” and express gratitude for what you did that day. A good way to do this is by starting a journal. Write down 1-3 things you are grateful for each day.
- Highlight them with a marker to find them when you are feeling low.
- Share the daily gifts and blessings you receive and offer.
- When you focus on material possessions, it’s not as powerful as when you recognize the smaller and more significant things that happen in your life.
- Write a letter to someone meaningful in your life and let them know what you appreciate about them. Then call them and get together in person to share what you feel.
- Wear a gratitude reminder like a gift someone has given to you. It could be a bracelet, ring, necklace, pin, scarf, or even a piece of paper you put in your pocket.
- Find a silver lining and opportunity for growth, even when you face harsh challenges.
How do you express gratitude? Please leave a comment below.
I’m drunk. I am soo darn drunk! I have to admit that the blogosphere’s gratitude pushes fall on deaf ears–it’s my way of life already. No reminder needed!
So glad it is Carol. Hope you always stay drunk with it. LOL
I am so with you on this. Gratitude is everything, and I love that Meister Eckhart quote. It’s perfect.
So glad you like the quote, Lois. So true.
“Gratitude is wine for the soul.” I absolutely love that!
Isn’t that the greatest? I love it too.
I’m always grateful, especially as the years go by. I love my life everyday and feel lucky for having that privilege.
That’s great to hear, Laurie. You have a blessed life.
I am grateful for my life and realize how lucky I am to have a place to live in a place I love. Sometimes I feel like pinching myself!
I love this, Rebecca! When I was growing up, my mother’s favourite song–or at least the one she sang to us kids at every opportunity was “Count Your Many Blessings”. If things got hard or even if we were just coasting through daily life, she sang it.
It became my own mantra and I will be forever grateful! 😉
Thanks, so much, Diane. You have a fabulous family!