Gratitude Goggles
Remember! Choosing a thankful mindset is one of the most powerful mental upgrades we can create: it reshapes our brain, our body, and our relationships. Besides, it's free, portable, and feels sooooo good!
Living in gratitude is like implanting “googly eyes.” When we consciously focus on The Good, our world starts looking more beautiful, more abundant, and definitely more kind. We’re not just saying “thanks.” We’re tuning ourselves to a whole new frequency where we see possibilities instead of problems. It's the brain thing I always talk about (Reticular Activating System or RAS). But really, everything improves:
Brain: gratitude rewires our neurons for joy, resilience and possibility. It's like giving our brains a software update, resulting in fewer “crashes.”
Body: it lowers stress while boosting our immune systems, and it even helps us sleep better...so many benefits without a pill!
Relationships: all the studies call gratitude “social glue” because saying thanks naturally makes others feel seen and valued. So, gratitude multiplies love!
There's a delightful Substacker posting “3 Good Things.” who does a lot for our collective RAS (she even mentioned it). She lists three short things that took her to a place of gratitude that day, and invites her readers to write their own.
I LOVE reading what they all say. Simple, profound dailinesses that bring so much joy. Reading them, my own “vicarious joy” kicks in, or mudita in Buddhism. My reward circuitry fires (dopamine), my insula engages, and my bonding chemistry pours oxytocin into my system (among other things).
Go, gratitude!!!