Day 10 – Counting Blessings

We sometimes forget just how lucky we are, we sometimes forget to see the fullness of the glass and only see the missing part. It is normal, we are human. Yet, to fill the glass you need to first acknowledge and appreciate the amount it holds right now.

Many have explained and presented the benefits of counting blessing and many more have experienced the miracle of counting blessings.

How does this related to health and a boosting immune system?

It’s very simple.

Gratitude impacts your behavior and your mental state by reducing risk of depression, anxiety, heart disease.

Mindset helps the body work harmoniously and helps block toxic emotions which can affects the body biochemistry. Gratitude helps the body internal processes work in an optimal mode, it helps to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), lowers creatinine (related to kidney’s ability to filter waste) and lowers levels of C-reactive protein (related to inflammation and heart disease). There are many studies which prove this.

Also, for a boosting immune system all resentments and misunderstandings with others should as best as possible be amended or at least from your side make peace and release.

Here are some recommended gratitude practices:

• Thanking words/notes

Write and give thanks to others even for the smallest act/gesture/service.

Make “Thank you” your mantra.

If saying “thank you” in person feels too much for you, just put it in writing in a note. Keep the note or give it as a present to that person.

Try to give/write “thank you” to at least 5 persons/day.

• Write your blessings

Write at least 5 reasons you are thankful for each day. You can refer to situations, moments, emotions, behaviors, gestures, achievements, what you ate, what you drank, a blossoming flower you saw/smelled.

• HO’OPONOPONO

Write forgiveness letters or simply ask forgiveness directly in situations where this is possible.

You can either use the Hawaiian “ho-oh-pono-pono” as a mantra or write down your own forgiveness phrase or simply say:

“I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”

Ask forgiveness even when you feel you did not do anything wrong. Remember, this is for releasing any negative emotion related to a person or situations in order to make the relationship with that person be harmonious again.

Let gratitude be a choice you make every second, just like happiness.