By April Schulte-Barclay, DAOM, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., Clinic Director, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Healing Horizons Integrated Health Solutions
Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
Arguably, this may be a good time to change the world, one personal world at a time.
This time of year tends to be one of shifting our thoughts to that for which we are thankful. Being thankful cultivates the powerful human emotion of gratitude, and living in gratitude can make a tremendous difference in how you feel mentally, emotionally and physically.
After practicing acupuncture for 20 years, I have noticed it is within a state of ease that healing occurs. Living in a general state of thankfulness, or gratitude, shifts your body’s energy and allows the nervous system to find ease. While we quite often cannot control our stressors, we can most definitely change the way our bodies physiologically respond to stress. By finding gratitude, even during times of distress, hormones like cortisol are mediated, which reduces anxiety and increases a sense of well-being.
Studies have shown a direct correlation between gratitude and brain health. Perhaps most notable is the increased production of the feel-good chemicals serotonin and dopamine. When we feel gratitude, it leads to feelings of happiness and contentment. Having gratitude also increases neuroplasticity, meaning we can reconnect neural connections in a way that is ultimately more beneficial for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
When we are experiencing states such as depression, anxiety, and physical pain, our nervous system may feel as if it has no room for anything but suffering.
However, there is a secret to unveiling gratitude when you are feeling down in the dumps. You can find gratitude, and therefore healing, by taking one simple step. That step is to shift your focus to something that brings you joy. For example, if you are concerned about finances, stressed relationships, or even the state of the world, instead of focusing on the injustices that may surround you, choose to focus on something that brings you joy. That joy may be soaking in the light of the sun, delighting in the sight of your neighbor’s flowers, noticing the blessedness that is a stranger’s smile, and appreciating the beat of your heart.
You can notice the benefits of gratitude in real time. It may be helpful to take a few moments to close your eyes and notice a positive shift in your how your mind, body, and emotions feel when you are able to tap into gratitude. Over time, developing a habit of feeling gratitude will result in improved digestion, more balanced hormones, less physical pain, improved mood and increased sense of well-being.
In closing, I am grateful to each one of you reading this article. I appreciate the contributions you make to our community by simply being you. Enjoy your life… you are worth it!
You can find gratitude, and therefore healing, by taking one simple step. That step is to shift your focus to something that brings you joy.