Have you ever been told to “count your blessings” when you confess that you’re feeling depressed? Or perhaps a well-meaning friend has suggested that you create a gratitude list when you’re experiencing anxiety. Could practicing gratitude really help with anxiety or depression? Find out the surprising answer below. Can Gratitude Help With Anxiety or Depression? - If you're in that terrible place where...
Some see gratitude as a way to focus on the positive. Others see gratitude as a path to showing appreciation for what we have in our lives and therefore a way to expand those things. But regardless of how we view the end result in terms of our outlook, many fail to realize that gratitude can improve not just our mental health, but also our physical, and spiritual health. In fact, gratitude is one of...
I often hear people who are struggling with depression say, “I need to find my way back to gratitude. I feel like I’ve got a target on my back sometimes and can’t get a break. But I know that’s in my own mind.” - They’re recognizing a vital part of -healing from depression- – and that is finding perspective and balance. That’s what gratitude can bring to everyone, but especially someone who struggles...
Mindfulness, a concept practiced as early as the fifth century BC, has recently experienced a revitalization, perhaps an explosion, in our modern culture. But what is it exactly and why is it important? At its most basic, mindfulness refers to the practice of paying attention, being in the present moment and remaining open-minded. The practice itself has been linked with lower rates of depression and...
The room was silent except for the hum of the machines, the rhythmic blip of the heart monitor, and the quiet cadence of my dad’s breathing. With no hope of recovery, life support was about to be terminated. I was spending a few last moments with him. I was 15. Suddenly, I became acutely aware of my own heartbeat. It was in perfect sync with dad's heart monitor. Stunned, I realized several profound...
The hustle and bustle of the holidays is upon us and the parties, family gatherings and the like are keeping us pretty busy. We feel the coolness in the air, and the beauty of nature this time of year. It seems like a rebirth of sorts, as the earth prepares for the slumber of winter and the birth of spring. We even notice that people seem friendlier, and we somehow forget the frustration we have with...
Life's been throwing me a few curve balls recently and I've been thinking seriously about making priority shifts. It dawned on me that now would be a great time to also begin a gratitude journal. I've spoken to my own clients before about the benefits of a gratitude journal - particularly when things seem bleak or they have a "glass half empty" attitude which is so easy for any of us to slip into!...