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Arete Warriors – spirit, mind, body strong
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I’m Thankful!
We all know we should be thankful – right up until we trip over the shoes our kid left in the middle of the floor for the 115th time. But gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is great. It’s about training the brain to notice what is good… so it’s strong enough to handle what isn’t.
Drive through any major intersection in Denver and you will have a reason to be thankful staring you in the face, holding a sign.
We all have a lot to be thankful for.
I’m thankful Izak made the JV basketball team this week.
I’m thankful Nadia and I are listening to Harry Potter together while we drive the many miles we drive together these days. (Can you believe I’ve never read them?)
I’m thankful my husband’s hard work affords me the freedom to NOT have to go to a job, because I don’t want to right now. Maybe someday I’ll feel differently, but I’m loving my stay-at-home-mom status.
I’m thankful Lisa is staying at our house this weekend with Izak while we are away. 😍
I’m thankful for our new home, Snoop, and our health (despite Ali STILL fighting something going on 2 weeks now).
Let’s Prepare – the warm up
Gratitude activates three major areas linked to happiness and emotional regulation.
- The Prefrontal Cortex leads to better decision making and less stress reaction.
- The Anterior Cingulate Cortex boosts empathy and connection.
- The Hypothalmus regulates stress hormones and sleep.
Gratitude literally rewires your brain to be more resilient, more optimistic, and less reactive. AKA fewer mom meltdowns and faster emotional recovery on difficult days.
Gratitude also boosts hormones and chemistry.
- Dopamine is involved with pursuit and motivation. “I can do this” energy.
- Serotonin is our mood regulator. Think calm confidence.
- Oxytocin is involved in bonding and connection.
- Lower Cortisol reduces your stress response.
Researchers call gratitude a “natural antidepressant”. It strengthens our perspective.
Gratitude interrupts our “threat mode” in the brain. Because it involves the prefrontal cortex (the same area used to make smart choices) it reduces overthinking and spinning mental wheels.
Gratitude is not only useful for moms (obviously). Grateful kids:
- compare themselves less
- show more kindness
- have stronger immune systems (yes, really)
Children who practice gratitude even once or twice a week show higher levels of happiness and better physical health markers. Thankfulness trains emotional regulation early – the same way exercise trains muscles.
Let’s Work – the exercise
Studies show writing 3 things you’re thankful for before bed improves sleep quality and increases deep sleep cycles.
Expressing gratitude to a spouse increases relationship satisfaction more than any other communication habit. Research confirms it.
Here are some dinner conversation starters to build gratitude into your family’s daily routine.
What went right today?
What made you smile?
What did your body do well today?
Who helped you?
What’s something you’d miss if you lost it?
What are you looking forward to?
Who loves you?
What’s something you did well today?
What is working right now?
🥰 Not just during Thanksgiving, but ALWAYS we should practice looking for what we can appreciate. (Yes, even the struggles life hands us.)
Can you see how this would enhance your life?
