I am thankful for you!. I am surrounded by a diverse group of supportive, fascinating people and I appreciate each and every one of you!
Thanksgiving is coming up and I have been thinking about all the things and people I am thankful for. Did you know that cultivating gratitude can improve your health? Research shows that grateful people are better able to cope with stress, have improved immune function, sleep better, and exercise more regularly than those with a less optimistic outlook.
You have probably heard me talk about my Grannie Mattie. She was always positive. Always! Once I asked her if she ever got depressed and she said “sometimes I think about Grandpa (who is deceased) and I get sad, but then I just think of something funny one of your kids said when you were little and then I laugh and laugh!”
Want to train your brain to be more optimistic? Here are three things you can start doing today:
- Keep a gratitude journal. Once a day, preferably first thing in the morning, write down one thing you are grateful for. And yes there’s an app for that.
- Think of the good times. Stuck in traffic? Stressful exchange with a co-worker? Think back to a happy moment from your past (just like Mattie did).
- Say thank you. Thank someone who did something nice for you either in person, via email, or sit down with pen and paper and write a thank you note.
This month I challenge you to share your gratitude. What are you thankful for? Leave a gratitude post on Fluid’s facebook page and you could win a massage gift certificate. Winner will be announced on the December newsletter.
What newsletter you say? Sign up for Fluid’s monthly newsletter by adding your email address in the box up there on the right ->
Anne McCranie is a Portland (Sellwood), Oregon based Personal Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist. She offers integrative movement + massage sessions to help you care for your body and mind.