Good Morning! Did you know that actively creating a sense of appreciation and gratitude significantly improves the function of your heart and mind?
In Chinese medicine, imbalances in the emotions are the root of most health problems. The others tend to come from environmental factors… Promoting a serene state of mind is central to good health and wellness. But how do we get there, for real?! The answer is PRACTICE! Through practice, we discipline and transform ourselves. We improve our circumstances and wake up to a whole new quality of life. I love how the Institute for Heartmath explains the physiological effects of stress:
“In general, emotional stress – including emotions such as anger, frustration, and anxiety—gives rise to heart rhythm patterns that appear irregular and erratic: the HRV (heart rate variability) waveform looks like a series of uneven, jagged peaks. Scientists call this an incoherent heart rhythm pattern. Physiologically, this pattern indicates that the signals produced by the two branches of the ANS (autonomic nervous system) are out of sync with each other. This can be likened to driving a car with one foot on the gas pedal (the sympathetic nervous system) and the other on the brake (the parasympathetic nervous system) at the same time – this creates a jerky ride, burns more gas, and isn’t great for your car, either! Likewise, the incoherent patterns of physiological activity associated with stressful emotions can cause our body to operate inefficiently, deplete our energy, and produce extra wear and tear on our whole system. This is especially true if stress and negative emotions are prolonged or experienced often.
In contrast, positive emotions send a very different signal throughout our body. When we experience uplifting emotions such as appreciation, joy, care, and love; our heart rhythm pattern becomes highly ordered, looking like a smooth, harmonious wave. This is called a coherent heart rhythm pattern. When we are generating a coherent heart rhythm, the activity in the two branches of the ANS is synchronized and the body’s systems operate with increased efficiency and harmony. It’s no wonder that positive emotions feel so good – they actually help our body’s systems synchronize and work better (https://www.heartmath.com/science).”
I want to offer my patients a real solution for persistent negative emotional states. One of the most powerful tools I have found is regular practice of The Thanksgiving Address. I was taught about The Thanksgiving Address by John Stokes of The Tracking Project (www.thetrackingproject.org). Together with the Mohawk (Haudenosaunee) nation, he created a book that has since been published in many different languages, all of them printed along with the original Mohawk language as a sincere effort to keep it alive. Traditionally, the Thanksgiving Address is practiced in a circle, before a gathering or meeting. It is not always possible for us to meet up and do this, however, and I wanted to find a way for my patients to engage with the practice. I created a journal template for reflecting on all the aspects of nature that we greet and thank in the Thanksgiving Address. I checked with Uncle John to make sure it was ok to share- so here it is!
I challenge you to sit down with your morning beverage, to light a candle, and to take some time writing or drawing about what each of the titles mean to you. No rules… just let your appreciation flow however it does. I have found that I often end up writing these adorable little poems that warm my heart. At the end of the practice, I feel so recharged and refreshed. I want more of that- for myself, for you, for the world. Then I find myself going out into the world tuning into things that I am thankful for, making mental notes to include them in my next practice… It is like vitamins for my soul! Anyways- here is the template! Print it out, save it, share it… remember who brought it to us- the Haudenosaunee.
Every time I practice the “People” section, I remember my beloved patients and students from whom I learn so much. Thank you for being part of my life!
PDF version is available too- just let me know if you want it- then you can write directly inside on your device.
Drop a line below about something you’re thankful for! 
Wayfinder Wellness 