I came across a YouTube video with Dr. Tara Swart, Neuroscientist and MD. According to her website, “Tara is passionate about disseminating simple, pragmatic neuroscience-based messages that change the way people live and work.” She is truly fascinating!! Dr. Swart says, “There’s a lot of scientific evidence for the benefits on your mental health and your health and your longevity of gratitude.” “Buddhists have known forever…replace every negative thought with a positive thought.” And, “…if you are giving gratitude then you are improving the release of oxytocin and that is relatively reducing the stress hormone [cortisol]. So, basically love or gratitude, trust, those sorts of things can’t co-exist with fear and shame and sadness.”
The practice of being grateful is important because gratitude literally changes your hormones. Which changes your brain and your body. Which makes you healthier and happier. Becoming more aware of what you are grateful for, is called mindfulness. And when you show appreciation for the experiences and things that make you happy, then you experience and see more of the same. This is the powerful way that we can manifest our desires. Dr. Swart describes it like this, “Raise your awareness, focus your attention, do your deliberate practice and hold yourself accountable.”
Simply put, what you focus on grows. And growth of what you are grateful for is called “abundance”. So be grateful. Practice gratitude. Be mindful of the abundance in your life. And with all the blessings around you, live the life your want with a grateful heart, by writing your own story.