Hi and happy Feel-Good Monday!

This is where we share our favorite tips, tricks, secrets, and ways to "think like a healthy person" so that you can find your own delicious path to healthy living.

"Feel-Good Mondays" are meant to help us get back into that place of feeling energized, nourished, and ready to take inspired action for the week ahead.  

Thanksgiving is the BIG holiday for the Mosses. Like, epic-big.

Over the years the holiday has shifted from an overwhelming 30-person dinner party to a group of about 15, but it’s still a big deal for us. It’s the one holiday that my husband and I are fully in charge of each year, and the planning/cooking/shopping has already gone into full effect. My mom and I (and baby Rye!) will be holed up in my kitchen from now ’til Thursday, and I totally love every minute of it.

You can check out some of the yummy, healthy recipes I’ll be making on my Facebook page, but there’s something more profound and “healthy” I want to talk to you about this week.

In the spirit of my favorite holiday, I want to talk to you about being thankful.

And in particular, I want to talk to you about the ways that being thankful, or grateful, can make you healthier, happier, and — get this — heal more quickly!

We may intuitively understand that grateful people are happier and more hopeful, but from a health-perspective, they’re also less likely to be depressed, anxious, or sick.

"According to Dr Lissa Rankin's article "Scientific Proof That Being Thankful Improves Your Health", in one study, one group of participants were asked to name five things they’re grateful for every day, while another group was asked to list five hassles. Dr Rankin writes that "those expressing gratitude were not only happier and more optimistic, they reported fewer physical symptoms (such as headache, cough, nausea, or acne). Other gratitude studies have shown that those with chronic illnesses demonstrate clinical improvement when practicing regular gratitude."

Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the University of California at Davis, has done research that finds that that those who adopt an “attitude of gratitude” as a permanent state of mind experience many health benefits, including:

So, how can you engage in a more active “gratitude practice”?

Try keeping a gratitude journal! Start or end your day with taking an extra few minutes to capture all of the things you’re grateful for (from your cats to your mom to your favorite spot in the park) and write them down. This small step can have a profound effect on your outlook on life (I speak from experience).

Not the writing type? Consider expressing gratitude directly to others (who doesn’t want to receive an email or letter letting them know how much you appreciate them?).

Or simply think grateful thoughts! That totally counts too.

Here is what I am so grateful for this Thanksgiving:

• I am so thankful to you for being committed to your health and well-being, and for trying to create a healthier, happier life for yourself and your loved ones.

   

• I am so thankful for the amazing Moss Wellness clients we’ve worked with over the years (you know who you are!) and the opportunity to support them to create radiant, thriving, beautiful health (while having SO MUCH FUN along the way!!).

   

• And I am thankful for the continued opportunity to pop into your mailbox on Mondays and to send you some good vibes, fun videos, and health and wellness tips from my corner in Brooklyn.

You can feel good every day. And we are here to support you.

With love,

P.S. So let us know, what are you thankful for? – We’d love to hear from you on our FB page.