“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
The season of Thanksgiving can be stressful. There are meals to plan, kids to entertain, football teams to support (even if they don’t return the favor), and chores and chores and more chores. What we want to focus on today, is the gratitude that is at the center of this season. What would happen if we shifted our own narrative and put thankfulness first?
While it may seem like an unnecessary practice, gratitude promotes positive well-being in a surprisingly large amount of ways. And it’s as simple as consciously thinking about and recording what you have in your life that you appreciate. This doesn’t have to be something that only happens around Thanksgiving. In fact, it shouldn’t be that way! Gratitude is something that can bring joy to everyone, everyday.
Gratitude has the ability to strengthen and improve relationships as well as promote new connections. People of all ages who practice gratitude are more likely to offer emotional support and assistance, share their possessions with others and forgive more willingly. Consequently, grateful people are rated as more helpful and more generous by their social networks than those who are relatively less grateful. It’s natural to feel more connected to someone who shows you they appreciate your presence in their life; it’s a positive reciprocation that fosters healthy connections.
There is science behind all of this. “Heart-felt” emotions, like gratitude, love, and caring, produce sine waves or coherent waves that radiate to every cell of the body. This sparks changes in heart-rhythm variation and measurements of coherence. Research shows us that with “depleted” emotions, such as frustration, anger, anxiety, and insecurity, the heart-rhythm pattern becomes more erratic and the brain recognizes this as stress. This in turn creates a desynchronized state, raising the risk of developing heart disease and increased blood pressure, weakening the immune system, impairing cognitive function, and blocking our ability to think clearly. Seeing the effects that our feelings have on our bodies, it is clear that it is truly beneficial to practice things that are good for us, versus things that will harm us over time.
At Momentum Chiropractic, we are grateful to be a part of your lives. Whether you are a current patient or a casual blog reader, we are glad you’re here. We encourage you to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy year-round. At Momentum Chiropractic, our friendly and experienced staff will make sure you always feel comfortable and well-informed. Connect with us today!