With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought this would be a good time to let you know that I am SO GRATEFUL for you and your support! Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do – and that is something I am thankful for every single day of the year.

So … thank you!

Today, I’m going to continue “mindfulness month” with a super important topic: gratitude. There’s real science behind it – and how taking time to feel and express gratitude can actually help you reach your goals. I’m just going to hit the high points about how having a gratitude practice can help YOU.

You see, when you make the time to actively think about what you’re grateful for, it’s like doing a positivity reset for your brain and heart. It can lead you to see that you deserve positive things to happen in your life, and that you are capable of making them happen.

It can help you feel better physically, with fewer symptoms of illness, and even help you to improve your relationships, do better in school and in your career, and so much more.

And here’s something really interesting … People who regularly express gratitude are more motivated to engage in healthier activities that help them be more successful.

So, how do you build your gratitude muscles?

• Idea #1: Keep a gratitude journal
  It’s pretty simple. All you have to do is write down three things every day that you’re grateful for – taking a moment to really FEEL the gratitude as you write.

BUT … if you want to add a little “juice” to that, here’s something else to try:

• Idea #2: The Subtraction Exercise.
  Think about something important in your life – it could be a person, your health, something you’ve achieved, or an experience you’ve had.
  Now … imagine your life without it. What would be different? How would YOU and your day-to-day life be different?

Doing this exercise can help boost happiness and gratitude, according to researchers. Powerful stuff!

Today, I’m grateful for:

• My home and family
• My health and fitness
• My amazing clients
• Being able to spend time with people I care about this week
• What are YOU grateful for? Email me back and let me know.

Thank you again for your support!

REFERENCES:

• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_motivates_us_to_become_better_people
• https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_great_gratitude_strategies

Rob is the owner and founder of Fitness Lifestyle Personal Training.

He has been training for over thirty-three years; seventeen of those years as a personal trainer helping others reach their goals.