Well it's time to say good-bye to 2023 and hello to 2024.
And whether your 2023 was a bright and shiny year of goodness or pretty much a 💩show I'd suggest taking a few minutes to close out the books on 2023 by reflecting on what you're grateful for.
Why?
Because focusing on what you have to be grateful for is a great way to settle your accounts -- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually -- going into the new year.
Practicing gratitude has a crazy strong + positive affect on your overall health.
Gratitude essentially resets your nervous system which resets all of you. It helps to shift your nervous system from a stressed (sympathetic) state to a state of restoration and relaxation (parasympathetic). By doing so it helps to lower your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. This influences your heart health in a positive + powerful way. It can even lessen depression and reduce anxiety. It also helps with sleep quality. Put all these positives of gratitude together and it makes all of you healthier + happier + more resilient.
And if you express your gratitude to others it turbo charges the positive effects of gratitude. Both for you and the person you're expressing your thanks and appreciation to.
Given all the health benefits gratitude has to offer it only makes sense to take a few minutes and reflect back on 2023 and all the people, things, events, accomplishments you're grateful for.
Then take it a step further and pull out a piece of paper and pen and start making a gratitude list.
And I get that if your 2023 was a full blown 💩show then it can be challenging to find things you're grateful for. So maybe start small. Write down 3 to 5 things or people you're thankful for. When you get started your list will probably take on a life of its own.
And once you've come up with your list feel free to keep adding to it.
And you can decide if you want to power up on benefits of gratitude by sharing with others your gratitude for them being in your life. Or you can choose not to.
It's all up to you.
But personally I can't imagine any better way to close out 2023 and ring in 2024 than by being grateful and sharing my thanks with those who made my year brighter.
Happy 2024!!