As a health and life coach, I have learned the art of being thankful and expressing gratitude. I’ve also seen its effects on my client’s willingness to practice it. I recently started expressing thanks more to my husband and repeating to my friends what I’m thankful about him. Wow, it has changed my attitude towards him! I tend towards negativity, so this month, I’m going to focus on an attitude of gratitude!

In the month of November, there are often social media posts of everybody talking about the one thing that they’re thankful for every day. This is such a great practice.

But I’m an herbalist, so why am I talking about this? Being grateful affects your physical and mental health! It can change your biology. It can release oxytocin, a hormone that helps you connect. It can change your attitude about your health, spouse, and kids. It can affect all areas of your life, so it is definitely beneficial for your physical and mental health. As an herbalist and a health coach, when you come to me, I try to determine the root causes of your health concerns. Many root causes are emotional health and physical trauma (in the form of lack of sleep), and being grateful can improve these root causes. Being grateful can lower your stress, improve your mood, and decrease depression and anxiety. Expressing thankfulness before bed can improve sleep. It can lower inflammation and decrease chronic pain and disease. It can strengthen the heart.

If you find it challenging to cultivate gratitude, know that you’re not alone. As an herbalist, Health and Life Coach I can offer you a path to a more thankful heart. Herbs have the power to soften the heart and nurture an attitude of gratitude, providing a hopeful and reassuring solution to your struggles.

Here is a list of herbs that can be supportive for uplifting the heart and mind.

The top three are Holy Basil, Rose, and Mimosa Bark. Many “happy blends” contain these three herbs. Hawthorne berries are then added to open the heart more.

• Holy Basil: helps reduce stress and promotes emotional stability. Its adaptogenic qualities encourage a sense of calm and clarity, which can support a shift toward gratitude and positive thinking.
• Rose: is often associated with emotional healing and opening the heart. It can help soothe emotions, reduce grief, and foster compassion and gratitude. Rose teas or tinctures sometimes cultivate a sense of joy and openness. Rhodiola is another herb in the rose family that is an adaptogen that can enhance energy and reduce mental fatigue, which can indirectly improve mood and resilience. This boost in vitality and positivity can help foster gratitude.
• Mimosa Bark: A mood-uplifting herb that can soften the hardened heart. It is possible to have mild oxytocic action.
• Hawthorn Berries: A well-known heart remedy. If your heart is hardened and negative, combined with the above herbs, it can help you open your heart and be more thankful.
• Lemon Balm: Known for uplifting mood and reducing anxiety, it can help ease a restless mind. It’s often used to alleviate feelings of tension and mild sadness, helping to make space for positive emotions.
• Lavender: Known for its calming effects, lavender is often used in aromatherapy and tea to promote relaxation and emotional balance. It can help reduce irritability and create a more peaceful state of mind.
• Chamomile: is a gentle herb that promotes relaxation and mild mood enhancement. It’s a good choice for calming the mind and nurturing a positive outlook.

Aromatherapy: Lavender, rose, and lemon balm essential oils can be diffused to create a calming and uplifting environment.

Flower essences are gentle remedies that work on an emotional and energetic level to address underlying emotional imbalances. Specific flower essences may be helpful for individuals who struggle with negativity or difficulty expressing gratitude. Here are some of the most used:

• Willow: Resentment, bitterness, and self-pity. Willow is incredibly supportive of individuals who feel stuck in negativity or blame. It helps release resentment and fosters acceptance, allowing a greater sense of gratitude and responsibility.
• Holly: Anger, jealousy, and a closed heart. Holly helps transform feelings of hostility, jealousy, and suspicion into openness, compassion, and love. It’s beneficial for those who struggle with negative feelings towards others, which can hinder gratitude and positive connections.
• Chicory: Conditional love, possessiveness, and feeling unappreciated. Chicory is helpful for people who give but expect something in return or feel unappreciated when others don’t reciprocate. It encourages unconditional love and appreciation, fostering a more generous and grateful outlook.
• Beech: Criticism, intolerance, and judgment. Beech helps with excessive criticism and intolerance towards others, encouraging a more understanding and forgiving perspective. It can help cultivate gratitude by reducing harsh judgments and fostering empathy.
• Crab Apple: Self-criticism and feelings of impurity. Known as the “cleansing” essence, Crab Apple can help those who feel overly self-critical or ashamed, making it difficult to focus on the positives in themselves or others. It fosters self-acceptance, which can open space for gratitude.
• Gentian: Pessimism and discouragement. Gentian is suited for people who quickly feel discouraged or pessimistic. It fosters resilience and optimism, helping individuals recognize the positives in their lives even when facing challenges.
• Pine: Guilt and self-blame. Pine is recommended for individuals who carry guilt or self-blame, which can block feelings of gratitude. It encourages self-compassion, helping individuals forgive themselves and appreciate their worth.
• Sweet Chestnut: Despair and emotional darkness. Sweet Chestnut is a powerful essence for those who feel they are at the end of their emotional resources, experiencing deep despair. It brings hope and light into dark times, helping individuals find reasons to be grateful even in difficult moments.
• Agrimony: Inner distress hidden behind a cheerful facade. Agrimony is helpful for those who hide inner turmoil and negativity behind a “happy” exterior. It helps them address and express their true feelings, fostering genuine positivity and gratitude.

You can get Flower essences from the Company BACH Flower Essences or FES: Flower Essence Services.

How do you practice gratitude and thankfulness?

One powerful way is through daily thanksgiving to the Lord. This practice, as seen in many of David’s Psalms and can provide nourishment for your soul.

              I will give thanks to the Lor with my whole heart:

              I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

              I will be glad and exult in you;

              I will sing praise to your name, O Most High

              Psalm 9:1-2

Write a note to somebody, text them that you’re thankful for them, not just that you’re thankful, but what exactly you are thankful for. For example, if you’re grateful for your husband, don’t say I’m thankful for you. Say, “I am grateful that you are going to work daily to provide for our family or do the dishes.” Serving others is always a way of showing gratitude and helps improve your mood. Journal at the end of the day something that you are grateful for. If you’re upset with someone, telling them daily three things you appreciate about them can change your mind about that person.

So, this month, practice gratitude and see how much your health has improved.

Today I am thankful for my husband who has always remained loyal to me through all my negativity. I am also thankful for my friends who listen to me complain and encourage me to then focus on positivity. I am a verbal processor and sometimes this can get me into trouble with a tendency toward negativity.

Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart Song: https://youtu.be/QgyXJ6WORck?si=BnmWDGg6EGOcSbu-