As we start 2022, thousands of people are buying gratitude journals to help them to be more positive and grateful in the new year.
Have you ever wondered if there was an easier and more effective way of focusing on the positive? There is!
A new look at gratitude
Dr Andrew Huberman is an American neuroscientist at Stanford School of Medicine who has found, through research, that the neural circuits in our brains mirror the neural patterns of those around us
Through his research, Dr Huberman He also found that, to fully activate our gratitude circuits, we must put ourselves in the mindset of another person who is “receiving” gratitude. He created a gratitude practice based on this research that benefits us physically, psychologically and socially.
Try this simple four-step Gratitude Practice!
Step 1
Think of a meaningful story that inspires you, that you will repeatedly focus on in your practice. This will be an inspirational story where a person overcame a struggle and received genuine gratitude around that.
Step 2
Write down your thoughts about the impacts this meaningful story has on you. Know that your pro-social circuits are being activated as you are recording your thoughts.
Step 3
Write down how this story impacts you emotionally. What are your feelings about that? As you connect to your emotions and feelings, be aware that your circuits are lighting up in the part of your brain called the pre-frontal cortex as you are doing this.
Step 4
Repeat Steps 1-3 for 1-3 minutes at least three times a week. Consistency is key. Each time you do this, you are more easily activating your neural circuits. As you do this, you are training your brain to look for the lessons that were learned from overcoming the struggle.
This gratitude practice has helped thousands of people around the world to become more grateful and to focus on the positive.
If you want to find out more about Dr Huberman’s gratitude practice, see his full podcast episode, The Science of Gratitude and how to build a Gratitude Practice.
Another novel way of practicing gratitude and thankfulness
One thing I like to do when I am journaling is to look at an aspect of my life that I find frustrating. Write down all of the different ways I can do it differently.
I am constantly amazed when I do this. It helps me realize that my well-worn paths aren’t the only way to live life. This helps me to see that I can easily re-create my reality! I encourage you to try it sometime!
If you would like to work with me, send me a message. Let’s take a new look at gratitude.