Gratitude, is something that is not practiced enough. In today’s world, it’s all about getting and doing more. It’s how we were raised, it’s how our kids are being raised. If you don’t have it, you need to work harder so that you can get it. My car isn’t as nice as my neighbor’s, my boyfriend doesn’t buy me expensive gifts like my friend’s does. My kids aren’t as well behaved as that other parent’s. My house is too small. It’s what we were taught. And it’s what the news media drives into us. It’s why credit card companies make so much money. People are convinced that they have to have the newest and shiniest thing. They have to have the biggest house, the best job, the best body, the best life. Or they’re failing somehow. So today, we’re going to talk about the importance of practicing gratitude. Don’t worry, this is not going to be a sermon. Gratitude has health benefits as well as being important for your life. We’ll go into it.
Now, we all have heard the saying that “You should be grateful for what you have. Things could always be worse.” Does that phrase make us all feel like we should step back, say: “You’re right,” and change every aspect of our thoughts? No. It feels like a rebuke when people say that. It makes us want to not to talk to people about our problems, however big or small they may be. It doesn’t help us, it makes us feel guilty. And in some cases, perhaps we should feel a bit guilty if we are being truly ungrateful. But often, it’s the bad habit that everyone gets into, of comparing themselves to others. You see it in the fitness industry all the time. Someone has made great progress in their fitness journey, but they spend their time looking at people that are more fit than they are, and feel discouraged that they’re not there yet, and that they don’t have that body yet. It’s self sabotage, and aside from making you depressed, it’s also damaging to your health.
Since it’s the holiday season, and we just passed Thanksgiving, the holiday for being thankful, I thought I should write a post on the importance of practicing gratitude. So here we go.
Practicing gratitude boosts cognitive function, releases endorphines, actually promotes weight loss (since you’re removing all the stress and focusing on the positive) boosts your energy levels, helps you feel more prepared for the day (I recommend practicing gratitude in the morning. It’s the perfect way to start your day.) gives you better peace of mind, inspires creativity, gives you time to calm down from a stressful day, helps you gather your thoughts, and improves your heart health. It has a lot of benefits.
There are many ways to practice gratitude. You can use a journal and just write in it. Every morning, a couple of times a week, however often you can do it. Write down all the positive things in your life. What makes you happy. What you have to be grateful for. “I got a raise at work.” “I impressed a customer today.” “My kids made an adorable drawing that I hung on my fridge.” “My car didn’t have a dead battery this morning.” “We had a beautiful rainstorm this afternoon, and I had a roof over my head so that I could enjoy it without getting wet and cold.” There are so many things that you can write about. Even if your spouse or your kids smiled at you this morning. Anything that makes you happy. Write as often as you can, and reflect on the positive.
You can also practice gratitude by going for a walk. Go out into nature. Enjoy the sunshine, the trees, the flowers, the dirt under your feet. Watch the birds, the insects, any animals you might see. Marvel at the beautiful world we live in, and I guarantee you’ll find plenty to be grateful for.
You can also take a relaxing bath, with epsom salt and essential oils to help you de-stress, and just reflect on the positive things in your life. Spend time playng with your family. Get them involved. You could play a game of positivity. Have everyone list something they’re grateful for. Set a timer of five seconds or something, that they have to think of something they’re grateful for. If they run out of time or say something that’s already been said, they have to have a penalty of ten jumping jacks or something. Mix it up, have fun with it. That game would be easy at first, but the longer you go, the more creative you’ll have to get. I guarantee you, that that will make you laugh and feel more at peace and happier than you were before the game. So that’s another thing you can try.
Then there are herbs and essential oils you can use for this too. You can make a tea and/or set up a diffuser blend during your “Gratitude Time.” It will help bring more peace to your mind when you are doing this, and it can make you look forward to your special time. It will make your whole house happier if you and your family are practicing gratitude. I guarantee it. Perhaps make it a rule in your family, or suggest it to your parents. List the health benefits and the psychological benefits that you will get from doing this, and try to get them all on board. It will also help if you are keeping eachother accountable, should anyone fall off the wagon.
Herbs:
Gingko (Gingko biloba) nurtures your concentration by sharpening your focus. It improves cognitive function, supports circulation, lowers blood pressure, has been used for Alzheimer’s and Dementia, helps with memory loss, stroke, heart disease, erictile dysfunction, anxiety, macular degeneration, and menopausal libido loss.
Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) is uplifting, and gives you a sense of gratitude. It helps your brain’s cognitive, is very calming and relaxing. It quiets your mind, puts your thoughts into focus, and gives you resilience.
Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina) is good for the heart. It is healing, gently nourishing, soothing, opening, and helping us to feel more loving in a way that can help us practice gratitude. It is also used for cough and cold medicine, and has a bit of a sedating effect. It has been used to ease labor pain, helps with diarrhea and lung problems.
Hawthorn (Crateagus oxyacantha) is a calming nervine, and is often used to open and protect the heart. It normalizes blood pressure, it is good for older hearts, for inflammation of the heart muscle, for arteriosclerosis, insomnia, and for nervous heart problems.
Essential Oils:
Spinenard: (Nardostachys jatamansi) is relaxing, and good for opening your mind. It is used for insomnia, nervous indigestion, migraine, stress and tension, allergies, inflammation, rejuvinating the skin, and rashes.
Wild Orange is used for all kinds of emotional issues. It inspires abundance, creativity, supports a positive mood, brings spontaneity, fun, joys, and playfulness in one’s life.
Helichrysum (Helichrysum argustifolium) is used for allergic conditions, boils, burns, abscess, dermatitis, cuts, eczema, inflammation,s pots, wounds, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism, sprains, strained muscles, asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughs, whooping cough, liver congestion, spleen congestion, bacterial infections, cold, flu, fever, depression, debility, lethargy, nervous exhaustion, neuralgia, and stress related conditions.
Douglas Fir generates healing, respect for elders, wisdom, and learning from the past.
Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is used for acne, anemia, brittle nails, boils, chillblains, corns, cuts, greasy skin, herpes, insect bites, mouth ulcers, spots, varicose veigns, warts, arthritis, cellulites, high blood pressure, nose bleeds, obesity, poor circulation, rheumatism, asthma, throat infections, bronchitis, catarrh, dyspepsia, colds, flu, fever and infections.
Manuka is a healing and grounding oil. It is soothing, comforting, healing, helps you feel loved and cared for, upheld, grateful, transcendence, safe and shielded.
Magnolia helps you feel connected, compassionate, unified, thoughtful, insightful, perceptive, respectful, and kind.
These are a list of herbs and essential oils that will help support gratitude for you, so that you can implement them into your daily life. I hope that this blog post was beneficial to you. I had fun writing it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. If you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer them. I love the feedback, and I would love more ideas for upcoming blog posts. Please, feel free to leave a message, I would love to answer you. Have a wonderful day, Merry Christmas, God bless you!