Chronic stress has been called "the silent killer." It compromises our immune system and it’s increasingly recognized by Western medicine as a major contributor to some of the most persistent and chronic diseases of our time, like obesity, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression, etc.
It’s also a fact that it’s increasingly harder to avoid excess and constant stress. Too many of us live our lives in a constant white-knuckled, jaw-clenched state with our adrenals working overtime—all of which results in stored toxins and blocked energy. We become physically, mentally, and emotionally stagnant, and our systems (such as metabolism) slow down.
It’s important to understand that stress is a reaction—we can choose how to react to stressful situations. Lugging around emotions, trauma, guilt, resentment, and memories with us can compound day-to-day stress, to further age us, wreak havoc on our bodies and health, and result in serious long-term consequences, such as excess weight, anxiety, and even physical pain and poor posture.
So how can you release stress from your body and mind right now? I suggest that you start practicinggratitude.
I’m amazed that study after study demonstrates the incredible power of gratitude:
- Reduced depression
- Improved self-esteem
- Development of a strong immune system
- Decreased blood pressure
- Increased sleep quality
- Healthier eating habits
- Increased productivity
- Ability to reach goals faster
- Increased feelings of happiness and well-being
- Reduced negative emotions such as envy, hatred, and anger
- Increased positive emotions such as love and empathy
Below is a simple list of 3 things that you can do to practice gratitude:
QUIT COMPARING
It can be easy to start comparing results or circumstances, without even realizing you're doing it. For instance, If you lose 1 pound, but someone else loses 3 that week, you may start to think your 1 pound isn't a win, when in fact it is! Comparison is the thief of joy. There's no need to sabotage your own success by becoming overly concerned with the success of others. Make a conscience effort to focus on being appreciative for what you have and what you have accomplished. As Oprah once put it, "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
START A GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Set aside 5 minutes a day, perhaps in the morning, just to write down everything you're thankful for. Whether it's something as small as your warm cup of coffee to start out your day, or as big as have a loving and supportive community of people to cheer you on, jot it down! You will not just benefit from having that 5 minutes of positive-focused time in the moment, but you can also look back on your journal entries when you're feeling down. Win, win!
MAKE A GOAL
Each day, make it a goal to find one thing good that happened to you that day. When you're constantly focused on "finding" that positive thing, you'll find your whole mindset has shifted to looking for the positive even in the worst of days. Spending your energy in this manner will benefit your mind and your body to live a more grateful life and leave the stress behind!
