“Let go of your attachments to things. Instead, emphasize the value of your relationships.”
-Bill Harris
Issue #451 – Monday, November 25, 2024
This Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US. That means millions of folks will be sitting around the dinner table with family and friends they don’t usually see all year long.
And that doesn’t always go smoothly, does it?
I know that sometimes the discussions around the turkey and mashed potatoes can get a little heated. Disagreements and family drama, old wounds and nagging questions can put a damper on a holiday meant to help us appreciate our relationships and foster that sense of togetherness.
Which is why today I’m sharing a heart-warming essay from Centerpointe CEO MaryEllen Tribby that’s all about how you and your family can turn this Thanksgiving (or any family gathering) into one of healing and abundance.
MaryEllen explores the power that gratitude has on our minds & our bodies, shares an exercise that’ll bring your family together, and reveals 5 tips on getting more gratitude into your life.
Whether family drama is a common guest at your table or not, these concepts will make your Thanksgiving the best yet.
Enjoy,
Ryan Standifird
Mind Power Managing Editor
P.S. Are chakras and science actually a match made in meditation heaven?
Scroll down to our Check it Out section to learn more!
A Mindful Exercise for Thanksgiving:
The Power of Gratitude &
Affirmations for Healing
By MaryEllen Tribby
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, it’s a special time to reflect, to connect with our loved ones, and to recognize the abundance in our lives. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to engage in mindful practices that bring us closer to a deeper sense of gratitude, happiness, and healing.
While the world outside is often bustling, busy, and chaotic, Thanksgiving offers us a rare chance to pause, breathe, and be present. This simple act of slowing down is incredibly powerful—not just for the mind, but also for the body. You see, when we take a moment to feel grateful, we’re not just creating a fleeting positive emotion. We’re engaging in a practice that can transform our mental and physical health, boosting our overall sense of well-being.
The Connection Between Mind, Body, and Gratitude
You may have heard the term “somatic healing,” which refers to the connection between the mind and body. Our emotions, thoughts, and feelings don’t exist in isolation. They’re intricately connected to our physical bodies, affecting everything from our stress levels to our immune system. When we feel gratitude or repeat affirmations of love and abundance, we’re doing more than fostering a positive mindset—we’re healing from the inside out.
Practicing gratitude has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, improve sleep, reduce anxiety, and even strengthen the immune system. It’s an act that nourishes both the heart and the body, creating a ripple effect that impacts every aspect of our lives.
Similarly, when we practice affirmations—positive statements about ourselves and our lives—we are retraining our brains to focus on the good, to believe in our capacity for love, abundance, and joy. These affirmations are like seeds planted in the mind. And with time, they blossom into a life filled with more meaning, more fulfillment, and more healing.
This Thanksgiving, I want to invite you to embrace this powerful mind-body connection by integrating a simple, yet transformative exercise into your holiday gathering—a mindful practice that brings the power of gratitude and affirmations together in a way that everyone can experience.
A Thanksgiving Tradition of Healing and Gratitude
For years, I have practiced and shared an exercise that never fails to ground me in gratitude. It's an exercise that I encourage you to share with your family this Thanksgiving, as it holds the potential to foster breakthrough thinking, strengthen connections, and inspire healing.
The exercise is called “The Last Notecard,” and it involves nothing more than a pen, a piece of paper, and a few minutes of mindful reflection.
Here’s how it works:
Give everyone at the table a blank piece of paper and a pen.
Ask them to draw a box about the size of a notecard (6 ¾” wide by 6” in length) in the center of the paper.
Then, read these instructions aloud:
“Imagine that today is your final day on earth. You are given one last opportunity to write a note to your loved ones—something they will find and cherish after you’re gone. What would you say to them? What message would you want to leave behind?”
Give everyone about two minutes to reflect and write. It’s a short exercise, but the impact is often profound.
By the end of those two minutes, something incredible happens.
People realize the depth of their love and gratitude for the people around them. In writing those few words, we connect to the parts of ourselves that often get lost in the noise of everyday life—the parts that hold love, forgiveness, hope, and, yes, gratitude.
When I did this exercise for the first time, it reminded me of how precious life is and how easily we take the most important things for granted. I left that experience feeling more centered, more grateful, and more committed to practicing gratitude daily—not just on Thanksgiving.
The Somatic Power of Gratitude and Affirmations
This exercise is not just about expressing emotions. It’s about experiencing the mind-body healing that comes when we fully immerse ourselves in gratitude and affirmation. In that quiet moment of reflection, we allow our nervous systems to settle, our minds to quiet, and our hearts to open.
Research shows that when we express gratitude, the brain releases dopamine and serotonin—neurotransmitters that make us feel good. Over time, this rewires our brain, allowing us to naturally feel more positive, more hopeful, and more resilient.
Affirmations work in much the same way.
By repeating positive statements about ourselves and our lives—whether it’s “I am enough,” “I am worthy of love,” or “I live a life of abundance”—we begin to shift the neural pathways in our brains. These small shifts create big changes, influencing not just how we feel emotionally, but also how we experience life physically.
The body and mind are inextricably linked, and when we nurture one, we nurture the other. This Thanksgiving, take a few moments to honor that connection by practicing gratitude and affirmations with your loved ones. You might be surprised at how such simple practices can lead to profound healing.
5 Tips for Embracing Gratitude and Affirmations This Thanksgiving
To make the most of this holiday and carry the spirit of gratitude beyond Thanksgiving, here are a few tips you can integrate into your daily life:
Start Each Day with a Gratitude Practice
Each morning, take a few minutes to write down three things you are grateful for. This simple act sets a positive tone for the day and shifts your focus toward abundance.
Create a Gratitude Jar
Throughout the day, encourage family members to write down things they are thankful for and place them in a jar. At the end of the day, open the jar and read them aloud. This is a wonderful way to share gratitude with one another.
Incorporate Affirmations into Your Routine
Find affirmations that resonate with you and repeat them daily. Whether you write them on sticky notes or say them in the mirror, these small actions reinforce positive beliefs about yourself and your life.
Practice Mindful Breathing
When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, take a moment to breathe deeply and center yourself. As you breathe, focus on one thing you’re grateful for in that moment.
Express Gratitude to Others
Don’t let your gratitude stay inside. Take time to express it to the people around you. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in building deeper connections and spreading joy.
As we enter this season of thanks, may you find healing in the practice of gratitude. And may your Thanksgiving be filled with love, connection, and abundance in all areas of your life.
Check It Out!
Chakra Energy Activator Suite
There are plenty of programs out there promising to balance your chakras. But you won’t find anything that combines the ancient wisdom of chakra healing with the scientifically proven power of Holosync technology.
This unique fusion creates a program that’s not just effective—it’s transformative.
Harness the power of your chakras today and experience for yourself how science and ancient wisdom combine to make the perfect match.
Wise Words
“When we feel gratitude or repeat affirmations of love and abundance, we’re doing more than fostering a positive mindset—we’re healing from the inside out.” - MaryEllen Tribby
This Really Happened
Finished Day 3 and am in awe at how great I feel! Head is clearer, and I am so much happier! I just overall feel like I am in a blissful state. I have let go of worries and things over which I have no control. So so glad I decided to do this! I'm truly blessed!
~Lee G.
5-Day Challenge Participant
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