The Art of Gratitude

Through the holiday season and the end of a year, we often find ourselves busy – running errands, spending time with various family, putting up and taking down decorations, attending holiday concerts and programs, and dreaming of goals to set for the new year. While it’s an easy time to get overwhelmed, it’s also an important time for us to take a few moments for ourselves. Prioritizing a little time to take a deep breath and slow down your day can make a big difference in a season that passes in a blur. Keeping a gratitude journal is a wonderful way to keep track of all the good things in your life, equally as important through the best days as it is in the hard ones.

When we acknowledge and express gratitude, it can jump start areas in the brain that are responsible for delivering mood and happiness-boosting chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. From quality of sleep to supporting immunity, the effects that can transpire from writing down what we’re grateful for each day are a positive impact on the way our bodies and mind’s function.

Try spending even just a few minutes a day to acknowledge and absorb what you are thankful for. Your gratitude journal is your safe space to brainstorm and write down whatever it is you are thankful for that day. It can be big events, small details, everyday occurrences – there are no rules. As long as it is authentic to you, it is important.