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: