Ep 19: Gratitude & Thanksgiving

Gratitude is one of the most effective tools we have for our physical body, emotional body, mental body, and spiritual body.

In her book, Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown defines gratitude as an emotion that reflects our deep appreciation for what we value, what brings meaning to our lives, and what makes us feel connected to ourselves and others.

I wanted to bring you this episode in time for the holidays to share with you all the opportunities you have for bringing more gratitude into your everyday life. Some of these ideas and practices will hopefully surprise you as much as they did me.

Key thoughts and lessons found in this episode:

• What gratitude means to you
• Gratitude practices and tips including the most potent and most powerful
• The spirituality behind gratitude and finding it in every situation
• The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving address’s pledge to gratitude

There is a relationship between gratitude and joy that I discuss in this episode, but I think it’s super important to also acknowledge that emotions like grief, pain, and loss can also be present in a way that commands we find the gratitude. Gratitude is literally a game changer that is necessary for our overall emotional regulation.

A good [gratitude] practice can reduce anxiety and fear and increase positive emotions

Wherever you land on gratitude for this upcoming holiday, I hope that you find the right combination of gratitude practice that will shift your mood, your outlook, and your overall happiness. Please check out the resources below for a deeper gratitude dive.                                                      

Resources:

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown: https://amzn.to/3DT60n8  

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: https://www.amazon.com/Braiding-Sweetgrass-Indigenous-Scientific-Knowledge/dp/1571313567 

Oprah Super Soul Sunday Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oprahs-super-soul/id1264843400?mt=2 

Huberman Lab Podcast: https://hubermanlab.com/category/podcast-episodes/ 

P.S. Want to dive deeper into your personal Emotional Expedition? Join me and an intimate group for an 8 week LIVE virtual book study of Brené Brown's book, Atlas of the Heart. This book will be our roadmap to understanding ourselves & others better, learning the language to better express ourselves & ask for what we need, and coming together in community & connection. For more information: Atlas of the Heart Book Study