We are one week away from November, a month that's often associated with gratitude/thanksgiving, at least here in the U.S. Many of us will undoubtedly be participating in some sort of gratitude practice or challenge. I figured I'd post this now in preparation for that time, to maybe help us deepen our practice beyond the list. Many of the recommendations for gratitude practice indicate something along the lines of "name 3 things that you are thankful for today". This is lovely and great if we aren't already doing that. The practice below is to help move us from the cognitive experience of gratitude to actually embodying it--experiencing it fully: mind, body, spirit. It also integrates past, present, and future and helps with the attunement with the self (thoughts, feelings) ************ 🔥So here are the steps for a more embodied gratitude practice: 1)Name the thing/person/experience for which you are thankful--this is just regular labeling :) 2)Identify memories or impressions associated with the thing/person/experience for which you are thankful 3)Think about the bigger picture of how it impacted you/helped you grow 4)Identify the feelings associated with the thing/person/experience for which you are thankful for as you are practicing gratitude (feelings can be named but also tune in to see where in your body you're experiencing the feelings) 5)Identify a hope or prayer that you have for that thing/person or yourself in relation to the thing/person you're thankful for. ************* Gonna get nerdy for a second and add some science to the mix because I like when science backs the lived experience! It's kinda cool! 💛 The Science and Practice of Gratitude Gratitude isn’t just about being “positive.” It’s a deeply regulating practice that can rewire the brain for greater emotional balance, connection, and resilience. When practiced intentionally, gratitude activates specific brain regions that help us feel safer, calmer, and more open to joy. Research in neuroscience and psychology shows that consistent gratitude practice can:

This post was inspired by @Christa Lovas 's post about taking a 3 minute wellness pause found here: https://www.skool.com/inspired-life-empowered-being-7894/your-3-minute-wellness-pause?p=018b47d0 Her post reminded me of the ebbs and flows of our energy throughout the day which reminded me of a cool piece of information that I learned while completing an Integrative Nutrition Certification a few years ago (humble brag I guess, but what good is learning something if it's not being used? ha, a post for another day). Anyways.... Have you ever noticed that you can focus deeply for a while, then suddenly your energy dips and you feel the need to pause or shift gears (or take a nap)? That pattern is not random but rather it's a part of your body’s ULTRADIAN rhythm-a built-in cycle of peaks and troughs of alertness, focus, and recovery. ❓What is it The ultradian rhythm refers to biological cycles that repeat multiple times during a 24-hour period (not just once). These rhythms often last between about 90 to 120 minutes for full cycles of high activity followed by lower-activity or rest phases. They influence our brainwave activity, hormone secretion, digestion, and sleep stages and some other things (but don't ask me because I don't remember). 🧠 Why It Matters for Your Daily Life When we ignore our ultradian rhythm and try to push through when we’re naturally in a trough, we risk fatigue, burnout, loss of focus, and emotional stress. Many of us have been encouraged to "power through" the slumps. We end up having caffeine (guilty!), junk food (also guilty) and try to force the focus which just causes inner friction. When we align with these rhythms (working during peaks and resting during troughs) we can boost productivity, enhance well-being, and support nervous system regulation. For people in therapy or recovery, tuning into ultradian rhythms can help regulate body and mind , increasing self-awareness, reducing overwhelm, and improving rest.

Hello! 😀 Welcome to a community that will serve to empower you to live your most fulfilled life! Excited for us to be part of a supportive environment where we will be encouraged to explore and increase self-awareness, gain perspective, develop insight, take action and thrive through our journey in life. ♥ I believe that you have value and worth and who you are as a person matters and this will guide many of the posts that you will see. Posts will take into consideration the different dimensions of life: social, emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual, occupational, etc. 💡You are welcome and ENCOURAGED to share material, insights, inspirations, questions, and anything that you think that will be helpful towards growth.💡 ❤️Let's live wholeheartedly and with intention!!! ❤️ So honored to be part of this journey with you! Thank you for allowing me to be part of it. 🙂 🌟Please introduce yourself and also share something that brings you joy and makes you feel alive🌟 added: share some topics that interest you-- this will help guide some of the content!!🔥 ***Feel free to self promote either here or under the life wins category***