Episode 2: How Gratitude Improves Mental Health, Self Love & Well Being

Podcast: Be Well Darling 

Host: Laura Darling

Episode Overview

Hello Darling, Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode of Be Well Darling. Today, we’re diving deep into the meaning of gratitude — what it is, why it matters, and how it touches every aspect of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

You’ll learn how to cultivate both gratitude and self-gratitude, and how making gratitude a daily practice can align you with your most authentic, fulfilled life.

🌿 Why This Episode Matters

This episode is especially meaningful as we enter the holiday season — a time when many of us gather with loved ones to share meals, stories, and appreciation. gratitude was at the top of my list when I envisioned the Be Well Darling podcast.

I wanted our journey to begin by holding gratitude for you, and for the life experiences that brought our paths together. I also share my personal reflections on self-gratitude — stepping forward bravely to share my voice, and honoring myself in the process.

🧠 Why Gratitude Is So Important In this episode, we explore how gratitude uplifts your whole health. Research shows that gratitude can:

If gratitude has this much power, why reserve it for the holidays? Let’s make it a daily practice.

💛 What Gratitude Really Is

Gratitude isn’t just a polite “thank you.” It’s a deep appreciation for the goodness in your life, seeing experiences as gifts, and choosing an outlook filled with value, hope, and generosity. It’s your emotional signal that you are experiencing something good — and your mind and body respond in kind.

📝 Gratitude Exercise #1: Your Top 10 Grab a pen and paper for a guided practice:

Many of us forget to include ourselves. Today, we begin shifting that.

🌸 Deep Dive: What Is Self-Gratitude?

Self-gratitude is not about achievements, milestones, or doing. It is the practice of appreciating who you are — your inner worth, strengths, resilience, and humanity.

Together we explore its four key aspects: 

🌙 Benefits of Self-Gratitude Practicing self-gratitude can:

📝 Gratitude Exercise #2: Reframing Gratitude

Now let’s shift the perspective.

You’ll begin to see the pattern: Everything in your life begins with you.

✨ Final Thoughts You are the catalyst — the spark — behind your relationships, dreams, and growth. Over the next few weeks, try adding 1–2 things each day that you are grateful for about yourself:

As you head into the holiday season, remember: You can bring the food, the décor, the energy… but the most important thing you bring is you — present, grateful, and whole.

🌼 Connect & Continue the Journey If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone seeking more gratitude and self-love in their life. Let’s continue this journey of wellness together. With love, Darling.

💛 Tune in for the next episode where we talk about aligning your energy through Reiki, learn what Reiki is, the foundations of Reiki, how it can support your energy and physical well being.