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outofsmallthingsli
Nov 272 min read

The Wonder-Drug for Stress and Pain


Can you think of a powerful, side-effect-free remedy for both stress and pain—and it’s something you already have access to? There are plenty of great options, but at this stage in my growth, I would choose gratitude. And I’m not alone.

 

Let me share how gratitude helped me minimize chronic pain.

 

Several years ago, I had both knees replaced at a relatively young age. Unfortunately, the chronic pain I’d lived with before the surgery didn’t disappear with my brand-new bionic knees. Determined to find relief, I worked with a coach who specialized in healing chronic pain.

 

This coach used a variety of techniques, but one stood out: the power of gratitude.

 

One exercise involved imagining my life without the very thing causing me grief—my knees. The shift in perspective was remarkable. Instead of focusing on what they couldn’t do, I started appreciating all the ways they served me. It was humbling to realize just how much I relied on them every single day.

 

I took it a step further, incorporating gratitude into short meditations. I found free meditative music online and spent 10 minutes each day expressing thanks to my body. I’d go part by part, but I gave extra attention to my knees, thanking them for supporting me and allowing me to stay active.

 

Do you know what happened? My pain and discomfort started to fade. Gratitude didn’t just lift my spirits; it shifted my physical experience.

 

Why Gratitude Works

 

Gratitude is more than a feel-good exercise—it’s a powerful tool with scientifically backed benefits:

  • Gratitude releases toxic emotions

  • Gratitude reduces pain

  • Gratitude improves sleep quality

  • Gratitude aids in stress regulation

  • Gratitude reduces anxiety and depression

 

Emily Fletcher, founder of the Ziva meditation platform, describes gratitude as a “natural antidepressant.” Practicing it daily can create effects comparable to medication, promoting long-term happiness and contentment.

 

Here’s why: when we give or receive gratitude, our brains release dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters that regulate emotions and boost feelings of well-being. Over time, practicing gratitude strengthens these neural pathways, helping us develop a consistently positive mindset.

 

Abundance Starts with Gratitude

 

If you want more abundance in your life, start with a daily gratitude practice. Once you truly recognize all you already have, you create space for even more good to flow into your world.

 

High five ✋

  

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