Gratitude Isn’t Just for Thanksgiving—Here’s Why
The Ritual That Grounds Us
Every evening, Jerry and I lay a blanket over our bed, sit cross-legged, with our dinner sitting on trays in front of us. The TV is paused on our current show. Quietly, in our own time, we take several deep breaths.
Inhaling, I visualize the earth and everything it supports in order for me to live. Exhaling, I relax my body and recall gratitude. Inhaling again, I imagine the sky, the sun, and all that it supports. Exhaling, I relax again and let gratitude wash over me. Finally, I inhale and focus on the food in front of me, thanking it for nourishing me. Exhaling, I go deeper—I try to feel gratitude in my body, my viscera, my bones.
We end our nightly ritual by naming what we’re grateful for. It always ranges—from big accomplishments like selling out a retreat to small joys like the golden hue of fall light. Over two years ago, we decided to make this a practice. This practice has changed us. And I think it’s the most underrated, underused skill.
The practice of gratitude is too important to reserve for the occasional journal entry or once-a-year Thanksgiving toast. If I could give you just two reasons to embrace gratitude more often, they would be these:
1. Gratitude Lowers Cortisol Levels
Stress is inevitable in life, but chronic stress—the kind that builds quietly in the background—can wreak havoc on your body and mind. When we’re stressed, our body releases cortisol, the hormone designed to keep us alert and ready to respond to threats. While helpful in small doses, prolonged cortisol elevation leads to fatigue, inflammation, and even anxiety or depression.
Here’s where gratitude steps in. Scientists have found that regularly practicing gratitude can lower cortisol levels significantly. It’s like hitting a reset button for your nervous system. When you pause to reflect on what’s good in your life—whether it’s a kind text from a friend, a meal you enjoyed, or even the simple act of breathing—it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, your body’s natural calming mechanism.
On a physiological level, this translates to more than just “feeling good.” It means better heart health, deeper sleep, and a stronger immune system. When I exhale during our nightly practice, I feel it—a release of tension, as if my body is saying, “Thank you for letting go.”
2. Gratitude Improves Mood
We often think happiness is about fixing what’s wrong, but gratitude teaches us a deeper truth: joy comes from noticing what’s right. Studies in positive psychology have shown that gratitude boosts levels of serotonin and dopamine—the brain’s natural mood elevators.
But what’s fascinating is how it works. Gratitude shifts your attention. Instead of focusing on what’s missing or what’s hard, it nudges you to see what’s already here. It rewires your brain, building new neural pathways that make it easier to spot the good, even in tough moments.
Personally, I’ve felt this most during challenging times. When I sit with Jerry, tired from a long day, gratitude doesn’t erase the stress, but it softens it. It gives me perspective. The small things—the taste of umami, feeling our comfortable bed, the affection from our dog Bert—feel like little treasures, keeping my mood steady, my heart light.
Gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t require perfect conditions or elaborate rituals. Start small. Take a deep breath. Look around. What’s one thing, right now, that you’re grateful for? Say it out loud. Write it down. Feel it.
Because when gratitude becomes a habit, it transforms not just your mood, but your entire way of being. And I promise you—it's worth it.
