What if pausing for 30 seconds to notice sunlight through tree leaves could improve your mental health?

I've always found beauty in small things—a perfect coffee, golden hour light, watching my dog Mochi exist in his adorable glory. Turns out, these moments of appreciation are powerful acts of gratitude that reshape our brains.

Here's what we're exploring about gratitude and daily happiness:

• The neuroscience: Gratitude activates the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex - the parts of your brain associated with empathy and pro-social behavior (serotonin is the key player)
• Rewriting negativity bias: We all have it (I'm right there with you), but gratitude practice can help shift our mindset to see more positive things - though it takes consistent practice
• Health benefits beyond mental wellness: Reduces depression, lessens anxiety, relieves stress, improves sleep, and even supports heart health
• Six stupid-simple practices: Morning gratitude ritual, gratitude journal, gratitude jar, expressing appreciation to others, evening reflection, or just pausing to appreciate beautiful moments
• Avoiding toxic positivity: Having gratitude doesn't mean ignoring real struggles - you can acknowledge life is hard AND find moments of beauty (both are true)

From realizing that being "too busy" often means we're not pausing to appreciate what we've created in our lives, to understanding that you can find beauty everywhere if you're paying attention (even in rinky-dink neighborhoods with gorgeous graffiti art), this episode breaks down why gratitude is a muscle that gets stronger with practice.

Because here's what matters: gratitude doesn't require a perfect routine or complicated system. It just requires creating space to pause and appreciate the world around you.

Pick ONE habit this week and commit to it daily - whether it's listing three things you're grateful for in the morning, keeping a gratitude jar, or simply pausing when you notice something beautiful.

Subscribe. Share. Remember that you don't need a perfect routine, you just need to create space to pause and appreciate.

Small steps, big healing. Keep growing! ✨

Join the conversation! What's one beautiful thing you noticed today that made you pause? DM me on Instagram @YourCoachMari and share your moment of gratitude!

If you want to dig deeper into the science behind what I'm sharing, check out:

• Gratitude and Neuroscience
• Health benefits of gratitude

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