It is #GratefulFriday

It's #GratefulFriday

Research has shown that mindfully practicing gratitude can reduce stress and anxiety. By practicing gratitude, you can train your brain to focus on positive thoughts, improving your well being and reducing the impacts from stress and anxiety. This is because the brain cannot respond to anxiety and gratitude at the same time. It is an “either/or” situation. You can feel anxious and other negative feelings, or you can feel grateful and all of the positive emotions that that come with it.

So, let's give it a try. We'll meditate using this Sanskrit mantra for gratitude. It is one of my favorites, Dhanya Vad {dahn-yah vahd} - I feel gratitude. When I'm grateful, I find grace. By looking for the blessings in my life, I open up a space of light in every experience; I open up the path for grace to flow. I make room in the middle of everything for gratitude. Repeat it out loud 3 times, whisper it 3 times, and then repeat it silently to yourself over and over. You can also chant it over and over. See what feels best for you when you practice it. Sometimes when I am super stressed chanting it out loud brings me such peace. Try to stay here for 15 - 20 minutes.

When you feel stressed, practice breathing into your blessings until you're so full of gratitude that there's no room for anything else.

Much Love,

Lindsay