How Being Thankful Transformed My Health

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

I hope you’ll spend today surrounded by great food and all of the people you love.

And don’t worry…

I don’t want to give out healthy eating advice today any more than you want to hear it.

But I do want to talk about another great Thanksgiving tradition… one that could make fast, dramatic improvements to your health.

Today, millions of American families will gather around their tables, be present in the moment, and reflect on all they have to be thankful for.

But what if we did that every day?

Well, that’s exactly what I tried myself. I believe learning to be thankful transformed my health… and it can do the same for you, too.

I’ve been blessed with a wonderful spouse, children, and a growing brood of grandchildren.

I plan to be around for them for a good long time… and I bet you have similar plans, too.

That’s why I made a conscious decision years ago to get control of my stress… because nothing will sabotage your health (or kill you) quicker.

I believe our modern society keeps us in constant stress and fear, from non-stop, negative news headlines to bickering on social media.

Years ago, I read a book by Eckhart Trolle called The Power of Now that led to dramatic changes to how I approach daily life… and my own health.

It helped me realize how often I’m dwelling on the past or future… and how both are sources of stress. The past can be regret or disappointment – and the future can be worry or fear.

This constant stress causes our body to pump out “fight or flight” hormones like cortisol. And consistently elevated cortisol can trigger inflammation, anxiety, weight gain, heart problems, and even diabetes.

I started getting out in nature every day, spending time focusing on my breathing, the present moment, and all I have to be thankful for – and not worrying about the past or future.

Most people would call this “mindfulness meditation,” and it’s made me feel less stressed, more energized, and sharper and more focused, too.

I believe it can do the same for you… and the scientific evidence is solid.

A meta-analysis out of Australia looked at 45 different studies and found that this simple meditation improved cortisol levels, inflammation markers, blood pressure, heart rate, and even triglycerides.

This isn’t new age “hippie stuff”… it’s genuine medicine for your body.

So enjoy your Thanksgiving, and be sure to be present, grateful, and “in the moment” today.

Just make sure you do it tomorrow, too.

And if you need help getting started with mindfulness meditation, www.mindful.org is a great resource.

View Sources

Pascoe, M. C., Thompson, D. R., Jenkins, Z. M., & Ski, C. F. (2017). Mindfulness mediates the physiological markers of stress: Systematic review and meta‑analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 95, 156‑178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.08.004