I'm often asked how I'm able to stay positive despite having so much on my plate and facing a day-to-day struggle with chronic illness. The answer is gratitude practice.
Gratitude practice has been shown to improve physical and emotional health, happiness, and self-esteem. It also improves sleep, reduces stress, boosts immunity, and helps you build self-esteem.
In fact, according to Dr. Rick Hanson's book "Hardwiring Happiness", "Gratitude practice has been studied the most and shows the largest impact on happiness."
Gratitude practice is essentially a daily meditation. Here are a few steps to help you begin practicing gratitude:
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Think about a person or situation that you are grateful for today. This person could be a loved one, a friend, or a teacher.
Remind yourself of the person or situation you're thankful for and feel the gratitude flowing through you.
When you're done, take a moment to reflect on the person or situation you're grateful for.
Give Thanks every day.