Behind the Seams with A.K. Rikk's: Gratitude with Billy Lanford

Behind the Seams with A.K. Rikk's: Gratitude with Billy Lanford

GRATITUDE

Did you know that you cannot be grateful and angry at the same time? Our brains are wired for you to feel one or the other. Gratitude is always what I prescribe when people are feeling “off” or when they want to make a change of some sort in their lives. When you have gratitude in the worst of times, the world opens up with opportunities to create impact. 

Here are a few ways that gratitude will impact YOU! 

1. HYPOTHALAMUS: this is the part of the brain that regulates a lot of our bodies functions including appetite, sleep, temperature, metabolism and growth. In 2009, the National Institutes of Health published a study determining that the hypothalamus was activated when feeling grateful or displaying acts of kindness. This means we have to live in gratitude or our bodies cannot function.

Another benefit of gratitude to our brains is the release of DOPAMINE. Dopamine is a chemical that gives us a natural high and in order to keep that feeling we have to stay grateful.

2.  DECREASED PAIN LEVELS: when pain rears it’s ugly head, instead of focusing on the negative or the symptoms, find ways to feel truly grateful. Dopamine (once again) will flood your body and act as a pain relieving drug. Laughter is also a great prescription. It’s hard to laugh when you’re angry or fearful.

3.  BETTER SLEEP: the hypothalamus regulates body functions, sleep being one of them, we will get better sleep by being gracious. Let’s be honest…..when have you slept well when you’re stressed or fear based?

4.  REDUCED ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION: This is a BIG one in the world we live in. 1 in 5 people struggle with mental illness and that’s only the brave souls who talk about it. Society places a lot of stress and pressure on people passively everyday. Learn more about reducing anxiety and depression in this Ted Talk:

There are a lot of ways that gratitude can affect you positively. I challenge you to start writing 3 things that you’re thankful for every morning. This may be difficult, and if it is that’s ok! There’s no judgement in this. Just do it!

Billy Lanford

Ambassador of Wellness

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