7 December 2022

The gratitude attitude

Welcome to Love Mondays, a weekly newsletter designed as a 3-minute hit to fire up the other 10,077 minutes of your week.

The gratitude attitude

Hey Team, Welcome to Monday! I hope you're all well and coping with the hustle and bustle of end-of-year activities. It's a busy time of year full of cheer and joy, but all the festivities can add additional stress to our lives.

So as we slide into the week of giving, let's remember to take care of ourselves and our fellow humans by taking on an attitude of gratitude.

What brings you joy over the holiday season? Write it down.

Consider: ways you can stay focused on the beauty of giving.

Practice: identifying the moment where excitement tips over into stress.

Decide to: focus on giving the best of yourself to those that matter most.

'Tis the season of giving

At this time of year, we tend to give extra time and energy to work, family, friends, and the community. But while it's a great opportunity to connect with those you are thankful to have in your life, our December activities can also increase our stress levels.

We know stress isn't good for our body and mind, so how can we better cope with holiday stressors?

Research suggests that increasing your gratitude is key to feeling happier, helping you to make more positive choices, take care of yourself and feel empowered to embrace end of year challenges.

Kristin Francis MD, a psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute says, "Expressing gratitude can positively change your brain. It boosts dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters in the brain that improve your mood immediately, giving you those positive feelings of pleasure, happiness, and well-being.”

One way to start incorporating gratitude into your life is through journalling. Spending just 5-10 minutes, 3 times a week writing down what you're grateful for and why, can help you to disconnect from negative thoughts and feelings and shift your focus to more positive emotions.

Image: Gut Identity

There are lots of ways to increase your gratitude and whether you choose to count your blessings in a journal or share it with others, increasing your gratitude is a simple way to improve your life and cope with tough times.

As we head into the last few weeks of the year, let's remember to celebrate the small things and use the power of gratitude to become better, happier, and healthier versions of ourselves.

Here's to the season of giving and gratitude!

Love your Mondays.