Gratitude can help ease your pain. This is not a new concept but research is now starting to “show” that it works. First the bad news, in today’s world we are bombarded with so much input we don’t take the time to be still and see what is working well in our life, no matter how big or small it may be. Are you aware research has shown that 70% of our thoughts are negative and repetitive? I was stunned when I read that. I started to think about the conversation I had with others and what I had said to myself that day. I remembered what I had heard on the radio or TV, mostly negative news. Then I thought about my interactions with family members, how many times I pointed out when something was not done correctly. I was disappointed to learn the statistic is probably correct.
The good news is that studies show people who express gratitude have a better quality of life, experience less physical symptoms, have less illness and better relationships. “Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress,” says University of California Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons. Stress can also increase pain due to its chemical reactions in your body. By reducing your stress your pain can decrease and gratitude can be a helpful tool. When I work with clients I give them a pain journal so they can track their progress and which techniques have the most positive impact for them. I have now incorporated gratitude as part of the process.
I first experienced the power of this concept when taking a class years ago. One of the assignments was to find 5 things every night that we were grateful for, no matter how small or mundane it may seem. I made sure I wasn’t just repeating the same things every night to. For example one night I was grateful for 1) the hammock in the backyard, 2) that my daughter had cleaned the kitchen without being asked ,3) how nice my soft bed felt, 4) fresh fruit from the Farmer’s Market and 5) my husband. What I found was even when I had a “challenging” day stating what I was grateful for changed my perspective and how I felt. I still continue this ritual, every night after I get into bed I say 3 things I am grateful for and go to sleep in a positive state of mind. Now I am not saying you should never feel sad or angry but finding something to be grateful for especially when challenging situations arise will do wonders for your health, quality of life and pain control. So I want to invite all of you to try the gratitude exercise for 1 week and see how you feel. I would love to hear what happens for you.
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Laurie Ratto, RN, Speaker, HTCP, CCA has 30+ years’ experience helping people to heal from physical, mental , and emotional pain. She provides a safe, nurturing space for women to release fears and self-doubt, what spiritually ties us to pain. Laurie Ratto specializes in complementary medicine, as a holistic healer, she keeps her RN certification current because she understands the power of balance as we heal.