Gratitude can be a powerful healer. It is an excellent mind-body technique to use to foster natural health and alternative healing.
What happens when you tap into the attitude of gratitude?
Think about it. When you feel thankful and are thinking grateful thoughts, you relax, sink back, and your muscles release tension. You assume a more open and receptive posture and frame of mind.
You stop pushing, pulling or striving. You are more likely to smile, laugh and to actually feel happier. Anger, frustration, and impatience are not very compatible with the emotion of gratitude and so you are less likely to feel those negative, harsh and toxic emotions.
Gratitude acts as a natural alternative medicine.
A body state of relaxation and openness is more conducive to natural health and healing. The body is more likely to operate from a position of well being and safety. Stress hormones are reduced and stress hormones on a long term basis are so destructive to optimal natural heath. Pleasurable neurotransmitters may be increased. These natural biochemicals contribute to feelings of pleasure, well being and happiness. They also help you sleep better and digest food better. The positive neurotransmitters act similarly to opiates and may reduce pain and discomfort. All in all, anything you can naturally do to encourage positive neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin may help you feel better and actually have better health.
So, how do you foster gratitude on a daily basis, especially if you’re having a rough time?
- It sounds trite, but make a list of 3, 5 or 10 things you can actually feel some gratitude for today. It doesn’t matter how small those things are. In fact, small concrete everyday items are good to feel thankful for because it is easy to replicate them on a daily basis and easy to remember their details.
- It does matter that you can actually feel a sense of thankfulness for the items on your gratitude list.
Focus on that feeling of thankfulness. Get into the sensory details of it. What does it look, sound, feel or smell like that makes you thankful? Just let yourself rest in that sensory memory of a moment. Don’t rush on to the next thing on the list or reasons why you aren’t thankful. - Try to experience things that give you a sense of gratitude and joy on a daily basis. I step into my garden and smell the lavender, the roses. Listen to that favorite song. Look at those photos you have stashed away. Taste the ripe fullness of the strawberry.
- Be sure to think of at least one thing about one person that you’re thankful for. Close your eyes and picture them. Tell them thanks. And sometimes, preferably regularly, tell the people in your life you are thankful for them.
Do this gratitude practice for 30 days and watch your health- and happiness- increase.
What are you grateful for?
How has gratitude impacted your life and health?
How do you tap into gratitude when you are feeling poorly?
Share with us in the comment section.
Get a dose of happiness here.
And thank you, my friend, for reading this article. May you be blessed with your best natural health,
Val Lovejoy
Natural Health Consultant and Reiki Master
www.ThriveNaturalHealth.com
