“…there’s a gratitude circuit in your brain, badly in need of a workout. Strengthening that circuit brings the power to elevate your physical and mental health, boost happiness, improve sleep, and help you feel more connected to other people.”

– The Upward Spiral, Alex Kolb, PhD. 

“Studies using fMRI scans ….have shown that gratitude may activate several critical areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and empathy. This activation may bring immediate feelings of contentment and could also contribute to the long-term improvement of cognitive functions associated with these areas of the brain.”

Calm.Com “The Science of Gratitude.” https://www.calm.com/blog/the-science-of-gratitude

You’d think that knowing how powerful gratitude practice is, and how simple it is, then it would be easy to do every day. Turns out, there’s a wide gap between desiring the benefits of a practice and actually showing up to do it every day.

We’re in a season now where gratitude and thankfulness get a lot of attention. Let’s be frank – it’s not always sunshine and rainbows (or turkey and gravy!). Actively evoking gratitude can be harder than it seems, especially when you’re tired, stressed, burnt out, or going through something hard. Ironically, those are the times that it can help most! Another irony: this season of gratitude often comes with stressors that make observing gratitude more difficult.

Here’s where your yoga practice can support your gratitude practice! One hack to building new habits is to link the new behavior to an existing one. If you already practice yoga three times a week, you’ve got the perfect setup! In the minutes before you come to your mat, think of three things you’re grateful for. During your rest after class, think of three more. Keep practicing and notice how you feel. Feel benefits? Express gratitude!

On a personal note: when I do sit down at my gratitude journal, y’all come up all the time! I am so grateful for this community. Thank you for being part of it. 🍁