Hello Gorgeous Blossoms!!!
Life happens. And sometimes it happens to not be nice about it. We can feel stress, frustration, anger, … a whole range of negative emotions … none of which are actually helpful. Most are usually hurtful, in fact.
It can be so easy to give into the negative emotions. So incredibly satisfying. When we’ve had a really bad day. Our boss was crap. A human we had to interact with was an aaaabbb-so-lute jerk. A relationship we’re in is in trouble. Sometimes there’s nothing better than a GINORMOUS VENT. Or even a hard cry.
Processing emotions is vital and important to our well-being: emotional, mental, physical, … all of it.
I’m no saint. Even with all my positive determination, I have things happen to me that take me down. Some harder than others. I have to process what has happened; how it makes me feel; and what it takes for me to cope, get through it, grow, and move on.
I’ve learned, being an active processor (with a toolkit of positive strategies) helps me to work my way through difficult times, crap moments, and mean people. It also helps me avoid the negative downward spiral and negative self-talk that I can be an expert at heaping on myself. It also helps me simply live a happier, healthier, more resilient life.
And one of my favorite toolkit strategies is practicing GRATITUDE!!! I practice it daily. Plus, it’s in my Healing Toolkit of Goodness for when I take a hit in life, big or small.
Practicing Gratitude
Practicing gratitude has been shown to actually alter your brain chemistry (for the better) & improve your mood and life!
“According to UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center, regularly expressing gratitude (the quality of being thankful and readiness to show appreciation) literally changes the molecular structure of the brain, keeps the gray matter functioning, and makes us healthier and happier.”
Thrive Global
“In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. People feel and express gratitude in multiple ways.”
Harvard Health
With practice, you can make gratitude a habit and experience positive, long-term effects on your happiness, healthiness, and your life!
So. What are you waiting for??? Let’s get you Gratituding like an expert!!!
Practicing Gratitude is really easy. All you have to do is think of something you are grateful for today; focus on it for a lil’ bit; maybe smile while you’re thinking about it; and if you want to take it up a notch, take a deep breath in and then let it out slowly while you are doing your positive gratitude thinking!
And that’s it. Like. Not hard. So easy.
Here’s me … one of my gratitudes … I’ve actually turned it into a daily gratitude intention, and I keep it in my Healing Toolkit of Goodness. And I have little reminder print-pages that I keep handy on my desk, and on the fridge. And actually, I often try to go for at least 3 gratitudes a day. I know. Whoa – being adventurous. LOL. I’m big like that.
All I’m saying is, there are a lot of ways you can work to change your life for the better, efforts you can make (things like eating better, getting more exercise, sleeping longer, etc.), but practicing gratitude is one of the easiest and least time consuming ways you can do it.
I mean, seriously, how long does it take to think a happy gratitude thought and smile and breathe while doing it? In the big scheme of a whole day … about a breath. And for 3 gratitudes and a few moments really focusing on them. Coupla minutes?
So really, likely the only thing holding you back from increasing happiness and healthiness in your life, is maybe the know-how (which I’ve just shared with you) and the willpower to do it daily.
Come on, print out my lil’ reminder print-pages. Set them on your desk. Put ‘em in your kitchen. … Wherever you’ll do them. And then … Do Them Daily! Voila!!! Gratitude is the gift you can choose to give yourself! I hope you will!!!
Create and Grow Your Self-Care!
Want to dig even deeper into your Self-Care? Snag your copy of my “Mary Kate’s Be-Kind-to-You Interactive Self-Care Love Letter to You!”
When you find yourself feeling low, negative, unhappy – doubting yourself – maybe your confidence has taken a bit of a tumble & your self-worth is low …
Grab my Be-Kind-to-You Interactive Self-Care Love Letter to You!
You can start feeling better and start smiling again!
Filled with empathetic & supportive Love and Big Hugs!
Delightfully cheerful & colorful art will lift & brighten your smile!
14 loving, big hugging, and supporting pages include proven feel better strategies:
- Reaffirmations & Positive Self-Talk
- Gratitude Acknowledgements
- Smiling POSitudes
- Additional supporting ideas to help you find your calm and happiness again through self-care and self-love
- Bonus Love-You Supports and Resources section
Find more gratitude, POSitude, and Self-Care from me at Etsy!
You can also check out my new ETSY shop!!!
Get Your POSitude On!
Feel happier! Supported! Loved! Hugged!
Bring brightness and goodness into your day, and into your life!
Get inspired every day with a deck of my new POSitude cards! Available in my Etsy shop. Check them out and learn more, now!
Until next week …
Today, I am grateful for you! And all the love and kindness that comes into your life!!! May your day bring you heartwarming goodness and be filled with positive energy!!!
Love and Big Hugs,
