Would you believe that a grateful heart and mind can keep the doctor away? From heart disease to diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses, a positive attitude can make all the difference in your physical well-being.
With the continuation of illnesses that many have suffered over the last few years, it is more important than ever to count your blessings and be grateful for the health that you do have.
Here are five ways to express gratitude for your health (and life in general) this Thanksgiving:
1. Count your blessings (literally)!
Stop crying over spilled milk and focus on the good in your life. Put your finger on your pulse (or someone else’s) every day, thank your heart for beating, and realize that you have a living body.
2. Share your life-affirming stories.
Got promoted? Let’s toast on that.
Your wife’s pregnant? Oh, that’s great news there!
Your son got an A this time? This calls for a yummy pecan pie!
Small or big wins, they all deserve a celebration. Your happiness, when shared, becomes contagious and uplifting to others.
3. Compliment and “like” others’ posts.
Social media is a great place to show gratitude. When you like, love, share, or even retweet someone else’s post, you surprise them with positive feedback and encouragement for their social sharing efforts.
Displaying gratitude for others’ posts also makes you more visible to your circle and friends on social media — it’s a win-win!
Here’s our little challenge for you. Leave at least ten compliments to your friends, family, or even strangers on your social media pages within a week. Then, let us know how it goes!
4. Smile!
The world is already depressing and gloomy enough. So be the gleam of hope and optimism in someone’s life.
Don’t forget to smile!
Have you noticed that your smile returns when you smile at someone (even for no reason)? And it happens almost instantaneously! It’s as if our minds are hardwired for empathy and reciprocation.
5. Be grateful every day.
Setting a gratitude journal to record your thoughts of gratitude every day would do you good. In doing so, you affirm your dependence on the invisible forces (which is the ultimate reality, not matter) in all that you do.
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving to you.