Embracing Gratefulness with Mindfulness for Well-Being

When times are challenging, consider connecting with nature for "a reset." Nature offers us many "glimmers" — those tiny moments of awe — when we pause and practice presence.

What Brought Me to Gratefulness

November hasn't been an easy month in recent years. In 2021, my sister suddenly passed away two days after Thanksgiving. In 2023, I became seriously ill with COVID, which resulted in permanent nerve damage, a compromised immune system, and ten long months of recovery.

Two months before my sister’s passing, I joined a gratefulness group. The women in this group became some of the vital “earth angels” who helped me navigate loss and illness, even when feeling grateful wasn't on my radar. Over time, resilience emerged as I integrated gratefulness into my personal yoga and mindfulness practices.

Life’s challenges (loss, illness, change) can shake even the strongest among us. When hardships seem to come all at once, it can feel like life is unraveling. But we can choose our outlook, responses, and actions. Sometimes being knocked down is life’s invitation to pause, care for ourselves, and notice what I call “the glimmers” — those small moments of awe and beauty that remind us to focus on the good things and keep going. As I developed my gratefulness practice, I was stunned by the synchronicities happening to me and for me. I began to appreciate the beauty of life again.

Research shows that practicing gratefulness can reduce stress, ease anxiety, and improve both heart health and sleep. This month, I invite you to learn, engage, and practice gratitude — one mindful moment at a time.

One Simple Way to Start a Gratefulness Practice

Create the simple habit of keeping a gratefulness journal. Write down (or draw) one thing you are grateful for each day - or one of those glimmers that caught your attention.

Studies show that practices like journaling can improve your mood, increase empathy, and strengthen social connections. Positive Psychology provides a neuroscientific perspective on what happens to the brain when we practice gratefulness.

Gratefulness Prompt

What do you notice after you record your grateful moments? What changes can you observe as you build this practice?

Want Gratefulness and Mindfulness Ideas for Yourself or Your Group?

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter on my home page. If you'd like to see this month's gratefulness practices, I invite you to read the first issue of EquaTerra's newsletter, The Centered Path.

If you would like a personalized program for yourself or your group, let's connect and discuss!