An unrivaled power
Greetings!
Here is the first email of the series that I promised you last week - the emails that will be providing you practical tips to make healthy living easier and have a higher impact throughout the holidays.
Now let’s kick this series off with a tip that can be among the biggest, in terms of health benefits.
Ready?
Let’s talk about the health-enhancing power of meditating on the things we’re grateful for.
Here is the first email of the series that I promised you last week - the emails that will be providing you practical tips to make healthy living easier and have a higher impact throughout the holidays.
Now let’s kick this series off with a tip that can be among the biggest, in terms of health benefits.
Ready?
Let’s talk about the health-enhancing power of meditating on the things we’re grateful for.
You might be thinking: “Billy, I have a billion things I could do for my health.” And, yes, certainly. Exercise, sleep, diet, sunshine … they’re all huge. But nothing replaces the impact of gratitude.
Here’s the science of what happens…
Intentional thought stimulates your brain to build new neural pathways. That’s neuroplasticity. Yes, your thoughts physically shape your brain. And this upgrading of mental hardware can continue through life, with no end.
Bonus:
Manually upgraded mindset = less stress hormones.
Fewer stress hormones = less inflammation
Less inflammation = EVERYTHING works better in the body.
Now, I’ll share this…Honestly, for me, trying to meditate on gratitude without something to really focus on…well, that often just turns into a daydream session.
Writing the things I'm grateful for is what anchors a 'gratitude meditation'. And the additional writing further stimulates your brain's creation of the new neural pathways. This is because we are visual learners. Think of it as meditation with a pencil in hand.
So to make all of this really work here’s your official holiday homework:
Every morning for the next ten days write down five things you’re grateful for. These are the things that improve your quality of life - more than just your favorite t-shirt. We’re talking about important stuff like friends, pets, family, clean water, good sleep, a home, achievements (big or small). Write each one in a full sentence, like “I’m so grateful for my health.” Feel free to elaborate.
Next, read it out loud, like you're talking to a friend. Yes, because we're auditory learners, too. And we're making the most of the time we put into this.
Lastly, take a pause for three minutes to feel the gratitude you just declared. Take note that your breathing is slower. There is a physiological reason that we'll talk about in the future.
Do this within the first thirty minutes of waking up. With a hot drink by your side. Tea, coffee, cocoa, anything hot. Just no iced drinks. This is a cozy assignment.
Remember that consistency is key, like all health practices. If you miss a day the whole thing isn’t going to fall apart, but do your best to stick with it! I can one hundred percent guarantee that this will impact your day, for the better. Substantially.
Ready? GO.
Let’s talk about it in ten days.
Billy
PS. For a hot drink, you know how seriously I take Chai, right?
Fewer stress hormones = less inflammation
Less inflammation = EVERYTHING works better in the body.
Now, I’ll share this…Honestly, for me, trying to meditate on gratitude without something to really focus on…well, that often just turns into a daydream session.
Writing the things I'm grateful for is what anchors a 'gratitude meditation'. And the additional writing further stimulates your brain's creation of the new neural pathways. This is because we are visual learners. Think of it as meditation with a pencil in hand.
So to make all of this really work here’s your official holiday homework:
Every morning for the next ten days write down five things you’re grateful for. These are the things that improve your quality of life - more than just your favorite t-shirt. We’re talking about important stuff like friends, pets, family, clean water, good sleep, a home, achievements (big or small). Write each one in a full sentence, like “I’m so grateful for my health.” Feel free to elaborate.
Next, read it out loud, like you're talking to a friend. Yes, because we're auditory learners, too. And we're making the most of the time we put into this.
Lastly, take a pause for three minutes to feel the gratitude you just declared. Take note that your breathing is slower. There is a physiological reason that we'll talk about in the future.
Do this within the first thirty minutes of waking up. With a hot drink by your side. Tea, coffee, cocoa, anything hot. Just no iced drinks. This is a cozy assignment.
Remember that consistency is key, like all health practices. If you miss a day the whole thing isn’t going to fall apart, but do your best to stick with it! I can one hundred percent guarantee that this will impact your day, for the better. Substantially.
Ready? GO.
Let’s talk about it in ten days.
Billy
PS. For a hot drink, you know how seriously I take Chai, right?