December - Gratitude

Gratitude: Why It's Important?

(From Region 13 Educational Service Center)

Let’s talk about Gratitude. It’s the ability to see the positive in your own life, even when things are challenging. And we know now that practicing gratitude is actually good for our brains and bodies! Let’s look at a few reasons why.
  1. Gratitude increases the hormones in our brains that tell us we are content and happy. When we can go through our day and notice the good aspects and not just the negative, our brain is releasing more endorphins and dopamine and less cortisol (the stress hormone).
  2. When you practice gratitude regularly, you will experience better quality sleep, have more energy, and less anxiety and depression. While this sounds too good to be true, science tells us it is possible!
  3. This all takes practice. Our brains are incredibly powerful and they’re also a muscle. The more you build your gratitude muscles, the less stressed you’ll become.
Practice gratitude for one week, intentionally looking for the good in your life. Pick a specific time of the day and think of 3 things that deserve your gratitude using the Gratitude Template on the next page. Take note of your overall wellness at the end of the week and we think you’ll be surprised at how different you feel.


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