Gratitude Heals. It’s Science.

This morning was gloriously blue and sunny.

With so few sunny days, I simply can’t afford to not get my boys and myself outside. Everyone has been so cranky and desperately needed some sun to boost the serotonin levels.

This morning, I was tired, cold, and I didn’t feel like bundling everyone up and getting out, but I did it. I am so thankful I did.

We looked at the beautiful blue color of the sky,  felt the glorious sun rays on our cheeks, and played a game where we looked for cool or pretty things to point out.

It was like an instant reset for me. I immediately thanked God for the sun, for my boys, for my health. I took deep breaths and felt alive and thankful. The power of getting out in nature is miraculous.

I started singing, “I’m Going To Soak Up The Sun.” Eli was vibing, so I played Cheryl Crow’s version.

I was struck by a line, “It’s not about having what you want. It’s about wanting what you got.”

So true!

Gratitude.

When I focus on being thankful for what I have,  I notice a shift in my body from fear and stress to safety and calm.

I’ve been intentional about getting my body to shift out of high stress and anxiety to lower my cortisol levels, so my body can restore itself.

I can actually feel a difference in my body when I am thankful.

Believe it or not, research also backs this up. Practicing gratitude awakens parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and the ventral striatum. In doing this, the stress response is diminished.

On a hormonal level, gratitude is known to weaken the bodies cortisol reaction to stress by reducing the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Here are some sources if you don’t believe me: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26746580/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29375336/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.gratefulsf.com/science-of-gratitude/

With this information, I’ve decided to do a gratitude journal daily.

Here’s today’s:

Thank you Jesus for this beautiful day.

Thank you for the lights in my life, my children and my husband.

Thank you for my amazing parents who go above and beyond for me and everyone else.

Thank you for Friday nights where Erik and I get a couple hours to ourselves to nurture our marriage.

Thank you for bone broth hot cocoa that gets solid nourishment into my boys when healthy eating is sometimes a struggle.

Thank you for my little fuzzy sidekick Marina who’s been there for me through so much.

Thank you for fresh clean air.

Thank you for a warm cozy home.

Thank you for a good man who provides this for our family and supports me and sees the importance in me staying home to raise, homeschool, and nurture our boys.

Thank you for sunshine and blue skies.

Thank you for quiet nap time to get the opportunity to write this.