Grateful for Making it This Far, and Taking the Next Step
Gratitude
Each Thanksgiving celebration in the United States we are reminded to express gratitude and appreciate what we have.
You’ve probably heard of many great reasons why gratefulness should be an important part of your life. It offers many benefits — from physical (like decreased risk of heart disease) to psychological ones.
Gratitude helps you to remain hopeful and positive, inspires to look for new solutions, creates resilience and even protects against future trauma.
My Inspiration
During my college days I discovered that I was more anxious and overwhelmed that I was ready to accept. Soon after I graduated I started to look for solutions. It also took me several years to realize that I wasn’t alone.
After I began working as a pharmacy professor one of my passions became teaching my students about overcoming stress and anxiety in their lives.
As a teacher, I open my classroom to some amazing practitioners and researchers. I learn from these individuals and always delighted to introduce them to my students.
Solutions
Two years ago a week before Thanksgiving I started a personal blog to share tips and strategies on how to live more balanced, anxiety and stress-free life with the right herbs, food and self-care techniques.
This week, I am taking it a step further. I’m opening my classroom and my wellness network to invite you to become an insider.
You’ll get to know health and wellness leaders who’ll share their stories, tips and strategies for living happier and more vibrant life.
In my first episode of Wellness Insider Network podcast, I share my journey and also offer 7 of my favorite wellness strategies.
These are a few of them:
1. Nurture people that care about you — your family, friends and loved ones
They’re your most important support mechanism. They make you smile, help to relax and forget your worries. They put things into perspective for you. They know how to ground or elevate you.
Humans are social beings. Without this support network or when it’s broken we experience more illness (depression, anxiety, sleep problems) and feel more overwhelmed.
2. Eat well
That doesn’t mean you need to changes how you eat today. However, if you slowly incorporate foods that support your well-being, your reaction to stressors will change.
Fatty fish (like salmon, sardines), nuts and seed (like walnuts, almonds, chia and flax), oils (olive, coconut), and berries (blueberries, raspberries) are simple ingredients you can add today to feel better.
All of them are full of healthy fatty acids and antioxidants to feed your brain and help you to become more resilient.
3. Rejuvenate your body and mind
To do this you need to sleep well, take relaxation breaks and start creating a mindfulness routine to slow your body and mind.
4. Become more physically active
It’s important to find something you enjoy. There are so many to pick from — walking, dancing, swimming, hiking, biking…
Can you find ways to enhance these so that exercise becomes an important part of your life? I love listening to music or audiobooks when I walk or hike. Ultimately, this is what pushes me to put the sneakers on and go for a walk.
Consider trying tai chi, yoga or other activities that combine a physical and mindfulness routine I mentioned above.
What are some of your life lessons you are grateful for?
Found this post useful? Kindly tap the 👏 button below! :)
About the Author
I am a college professor, pharmacist and herbalist, teaching young professionals and students how to have less stress and more focus on the right food and herbs.
