Resources

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Mindfulness entails several qualities:

• being present in the present moment
• awareness of our actions and surroundings
• observing rather than reacting

The present moment is where we have the power to act. Awareness gives us all the information we need to make the best decision at any given moment. Observing rather than reacting gives us time to process stimuli fully before responding. 

The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire identifies observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience as the five facets of mindfulness.

Mindfulness meditation can help us cultivate mindfulness in daily life.

· When you set an intention to connect with gratitude, you're programming your mind to look for wins and connect with a sense of abundance in your life.

· When we take inventory, we see that at any given moment we have a lot to be thankful for. We have more than enough of everything we need. That includes time, resources, and love. Take a moment to think of something that you’re truly grateful to have in your life. It can be family, friends, a pet, your health, a beautiful sunset, or gratitude for simply being alive.

· Take a moment to connect with this feeling of gratitude. What does it feel like to you? It might feel like warmth, a melting sensation, a cool breeze, tingling, lightness, or simply a sensation of movement. It might be very subtle. See if you can sense it.

· Where in your body is this sense of gratitude located? Is it in your chest? Behind your eyes? Is it in your throat? Somewhere else? 

· Take a moment to bring your full awareness to this sense of gratitude. Now see if you can expand this feeling. Let it grow until it fills your whole body. Can you push it to the tips of your fingers and to the tips of your toes? Allow gratitude to circulate through every cell in your body. 

· Can you expand this sense of gratitude beyond your body? Radiate the feeling six inches out. Now can you fill the room with it? Send gratitude in all directions until it fills the sky.

· Whatever level you’re able to connect with gratitude today is greatly beneficial. If you can remember to connect with a sense of gratitude every day, whether it’s a mental check-in, keeping a gratitude journal, or making the full mind-body connection, the benefits are immense for both physical and mental health.  Expressing gratitude is good for your heart, nervous system, blood pressure, and provides relief from symptoms of anxiety and depression. Express your gratitude to someone for something they did and they'll reap the benefit as well. 

Learn more about the power of gratitude.