3-Minute Mindfulness Practice: Gratitude

It's not exactly a secret that gratitude can have a powerful effect on people.

A simple expression of appreciation for someone or something you're thankful for--even the act of writing it down--can change our brain chemistry, and can make us more optimistic, compassionate, and motivated.

On the other end, science has shown that receiving gratitude, or even watching others express gratitude, can have an even stronger impact on the wiring of our brain. This means that each of us has a powerful tool, a wonderful capacity within ourselves to provide others with affirmation, recognition, and appreciation for being the beautiful people that they are.

Gratitude has the power to show us what--or who--is most important in our lives. It has the power to uplift those around us. And it has the power to remind us of who we are and what kind of world we'd like to build.

We hope you enjoyed the video above, and that you are thinking of someone you care about. Please read the quote below as our message of thanks to you, and feel free to pass it along.

In case someone hasn’t told you today:

Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you for all that you give to others.
Thank you for being who you are.

Thank you for your big heart.
Thank you for all you did to make it this far.
Thank you for being you.

- Ami Kunimura

Want to support mental and emotional health in your school or classroom?

Mindfulness exercises provide children with the tools they need to self-regulate when facing difficult or stressful situations. Check out our blog for more tips on how to integrate mindfulness and social-emotional learning into your school community!