As a child, I remember having a hard time and discussing it with my mom. Her go-to response was to count my blessings and to "focus on the positive, and things will get better." At first, I was frustrated with this comment as it did not immediately solve the problem. However, as always, my mom was right. I started to focus on the positives, and as expected, my outlook shifted, and soon, the problem was no longer a problem but an opportunity.
My mom's message has remained with me, and I have tried to pass on this positivity to my own children. Of course, they have the same reactions I did, rolling their eyes with an annoyed "Mommm." Usually, practicing gratitude comes easily to me like a well-established habit. However, lately, I am finding it challenging to stay positive. I believe it could be due to the changes happening in my physical body. I have perimenopause and the decreasing estrogen associated with this phase in my life can cause mood swings; feeling depressed and unmotivated.
Around 18% of women in early perimenopause and 38% of those in late perimenopause encounter symptoms of depression. Moreover, indications of anxiety, such as panic attacks, appear to be prevalent during the period leading up to menopause (1)
Dealing with these perimenopausal symptoms and creating a new business, Yoga with Heidi, has been an extremely exciting adventure that fills me up, but at other times, I feel scared, anxious, and stressed.
Many of you might have experienced a significant career change recently. How does it make you feel to reinvent yourself in your 40s?
When I start to feel sad, stressed, unmotivated, and anxious, I get back to my self-care routine of yoga, meditation, journaling, and sweating it out at the gym. But lately, even my go-to's to keep me positive and grateful seems to feel like a chore. I needed a Mindset Gratitude Reboot.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative. When you experience gratitude you feel grateful for something or someone in your life. Expressing gratitude goes beyond the simple act of saying "thank you." It is a powerful skill that has the ability to transform scarcity into abundance. Gratitude broadens your perspective to recognize what is going well in your life, including the simple joys that often go unnoticed. By expanding your focus in this way, you can increase your overall sense of happiness.
What are the benefits of Gratitude?
Practicing gratitude can:
Improve your sleep.
Lower blood pressure and improve immune function.
Promote resiliency and a sense of well-being.
Improve self-esteem.
Strengthen relationships with others.
Practice more self-care.
Lower stress, anxiety, and depression.
Improve overall happiness.
How does Gratitude work?
Practicing gratitude on a regular basis can shift your focus from negative to positive thoughts, leading to reduced stress and anxiety levels. Thinking positive thoughts can trigger the discharge of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters in the brain linked with feelings of joy and gratification.
Expressing gratitude before going to bed allows you to sleep with a more positive outlook, better quality sleep means improved mood.
Practicing gratitude can decrease stress levels which in turn decreases blood pressure and lowers inflammation. Improving your overall cardiovascular health.
Some Research suggests grateful people tend to engage in healthier behaviors like regular exercise and healthy food choices.
How to Cultivate Gratitude?
During challenging and stressful times, practicing gratitude can be difficult, and it's important to make it a daily habit so that it becomes easier to maintain a positive outlook during these stressful times. That is why I created the FREE 7-DAYS OF GRATITUDE CHALLENGE to help build a new habit of practicing gratitude or reboot your existing gratitude practice. This Challenge includes a printable journal with daily gratitude prompts, guided meditations, and Yoga for Joy online class.
Welcome to 7-Days of Gratitude Challenge!
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