Originally published on the Oola Life Blog
( – Accelerators on 11/24/2020)
In the United States, when we think of the month of November, most of us think Turkey Day which is actually called Thanksgiving Day.
The word thanksgiving is made up of two words: thanks and giving. Or giving thanks. On Thanksgiving Day we focus on family and gratitude.
Why Gratitude?
Did you know that gratitude literally creates happiness?
According to neuroscientist and Stanford professor, Dr. Andrew Huberman, gratitude can change the brain! This happens by a neurochemical signature in the brain that involves the release of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. These are powerful, feel good chemicals that become involved in health benefiting behaviors and emotions.
By simply practicing gratitude, a little bit each day, you can improve your health and well-being.
Some of the benefits are:
- Better relationships
- Improved sleep
- Greater physical and mental health
- Higher self-esteem
- Durable mental strength
- Increased resilience
When learning how to live an Oola life, you discover that gratitude is the number one Oola Accelerator.
Focusing on what’s good, what’s plentiful, or what’s improving in your world helps maintain a state receptive to even more of what’s good, plentiful, and improving. It keeps you in a state of anticipation.
Once you get into the practice of being grateful, you’ll discover that opportunities to be grateful exist every day. But here’s the key: opportunities are only found if you proactively seek out things to be grateful for; something as significant as getting the top- dollar promotion or something as small as finding the perfect parking space.
When each new day is met with an expectation that something amazing is going to happen, it keeps you in a state of grateful anticipation; dreaming of what you will have, while also feeling gratitude for what you do have.
If you don’t already have an active gratitude practice, or you’re looking to enhance yours, here are some helpful tips from my experience:
- Gratitude journal
- Smartphone app
- Meditation
- Scripture reading
- Prayer
This Thanksgiving, while sitting around the dining table surrounded by loved ones enjoying turkey, gravy and all the fixings, take time to give thanks for all the goodness in your life. An additional idea is to go around the table and have each person tell why they are grateful for the person next to them.
Above all else, practice gratitude because it just feels good!
Thank you. Much appreciation.
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