Hello, and welcome back. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. You know, it's December first, and I can feel it in the air—that peculiar mix of anticipation and overwhelm that comes with a new month. Maybe you're staring down that year-end countdown, wondering where November went, feeling a little squeezed between what's behind you and what's ahead. That's exactly where gratitude practice becomes our anchor. So take a breath with me, and let's settle in together.

Go ahead and find a comfortable seat, somewhere you won't be interrupted for the next few minutes. Let your shoulders drop away from your ears. Feel your feet on the ground, or your back against the chair. Good. Now, I want you to take three intentional breaths with me. In through your nose for a count of four, hold it gently for two, and out through your mouth for a count of six. Do that with me now. And again. And one more time. Beautiful.

Now, here's what we're going to do. Think of gratitude not as some lofty achievement, but as a muscle. And today, we're going to give it a really good stretch. I want you to scan through your day so far—not for the big, Instagram-worthy moments, but for the small ones. The ones that usually slip past unnoticed. Maybe it was the warmth of your coffee cup in your hands this morning. Maybe it was a text from someone you care about. Maybe it was simply that you made it through a difficult moment and you're still here. Don't edit yourself. Whatever comes up, that's perfect. Notice it. Feel it in your body. Where does that gratitude live? Your chest? Your belly? Just observe it without judgment.

Now, I want you to pick one of these moments. Really zoom in on it. What do you see? What do you hear? What does it feel like on your skin? This is your gratitude anchored in the real world, not floating somewhere abstract. Breathe into this moment for a few more seconds. Let it warm you from the inside out.

Here's my invitation for you today: carry this practice forward. Pick one moment before bed tonight and pause with it. Just one. That's it. You're rewiring your brain to notice what's already working, what's already here.

Thank you so much for joining me on Gratitude Practice: Daily Mindfulness Reflections for Happiness. If this resonated with you, please subscribe so we can meet here again tomorrow. You've got this.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI