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If you are looking to change your life, it may be as easy as modifying the way you see the world around you. If you believe that the world is full of frustration and chaos, you will surely find it. If you believe that your children are doing poorly in school, you will be richly blessed with examples of them fairing poorly. When we see the world through the lens of “what is wrong” rather than “what is right” with a person, place or issue, disharmony shows up in our bodies and minds. Although we project the negatives as being “out there,” our bodies take on the discomfort in the form of bodily stress, anxiety and discomfort.

Try the following exercise for the next week:

Choose a subject to focus on. This can be a child, your living space, a partner, or an issue of interest. Instead of finding the glaring negatives that pop out so readily, look for something positive and accentuate it. Ponder it, reflect on it, and allow yourself to feel grateful for your findings.

I’d be curious to hear what changes in your life as a result of this exercise. Please share!

Looking for ways to promote increased health and wellness?

It may be as simple as setting your watch and taking a moment to be grateful according to a recent report by Jean Enersen of King 5 news. Enersen recently interviewed Dr. Kathleen Hall, Founder and Director of the Stress Institute, who suggests that “there’s actually a physiological response when people are grateful. They have more energy. They’re more enthusiastic. They’re more optimistic.” 

The important point to take away from Enersen’s interview with Hall is that research is now confirming that gratitude does in fact “change the body.”

Harnessing the effects of gratitude and using it to ones benefit might be the easiest form of stress reduction available on the market today. And that’s something to be grateful for.