Monthly Gratitude Practice
November is usually the month where everyone expresses gratitude. However, this exercise I am going to share with you can be done anytime. Even done on a monthly review or annual. I got this from the Dhru Purohit podcast, episode 452.
We know that the brain likes to hang on to negative experiences and ignores the good ones. Negative thoughts, experiences are like Velcro and they stick in the brain. Positive ones are like teflon and slide right out. This is because in our early days you had to remember danger so you survived. Good things, were not usually contraindicated for survival so they were forgotten rapidly.
Many studies have shown that gratitude journaling is beneficial with positive health outcomes, reduced inflammation and it will allow you to retrain your brain to start remembering the good things that happen to you every day.
Grab your journal and a partner if you want to share this exercise.
No matter how big or small, what is something tough or challenging that you went through?
No matter how big or small, who is someone who recently did something good for you?
No matter how big or small, what is something you did for someone else? You make a difference!
You need at least five positive interactions to counter one negative interaction.
Negativity will hold you back from being the best possible version of yourself. Train your brain to look for positivity. Spending time with positive people will benefit you more so than hanging out with a group negative ones.
Gratitude is a meditation on the goodness that surrounds us. We will easily forget the good if we don’t remind ourselves that it exists.