30-Day Gratitude Challenge

By Carolyn Flynn

Researchers have discovered that daily expression of gratitude can be as effective for elevating mood as a daily dose of an anti-depressant. How can this be you may ask? Well the secret lies in that thoughts are more than just thoughts.

Thoughts are bio-chemical messages sent from your brain to your body. When you express a positive thought, such as gratitude, you are sending positive bio-chemical messages surging through your body and brain, which in turn affects how you feel. The reverse is also true. When you have a negative thought, such as anger, sadness, guilt, or regret, thousands of negative bio-chemical messages start surging through your body, easily triggering a snowball effect of more negative thoughts and feelings, increasing fear, depression, and anxiety.

Now I’m not suggesting you stop your anti-depressant if your doctor has prescribed one for you. But I am suggesting that you have the power to turn your negative emotions and feelings to positive ones by daily focusing on the positive and what you are grateful for. If you are on prescription medications, this daily gratitude practice can enhance your feelings of well-being, and under the guidance and approval of your doctor may allow you to reduce your medication dosage.

Regular practice of positive thinking can create a cascade of positive emotions, thoughts, feelings, and actions in your life. Your daily expressions of gratitude whether written in your journal or verbally expressed will trigger feel-good neurotransmitters in your brain and send feel good bio-chemical messages and feelings throughout your body.

This month I challenge you to naturally elevate your feel good feelings with a 30-Day Gratitude Challenge. Each day express at least one thing that you are grateful for that was different then the prior days. Boost the challenge benefits by expressing as many things that you are grateful for including at least one unique item each day that you haven’t mention before.

Below is my list of 30 things I am grateful for to get you started in this mood-boosting challenge: Read the rest of this entry »


Carolyn Flynn is a Relationship Expert and author of Heal Your Grief, SMART Talk, and Holiday Peace And Joy.

Relationship Strengthening Affirmations

By Carolyn Flynn

Everything we say and do is an affirmation of our life. Negative statements and feelings affirm and reinforce the negative beliefs and circumstances of our life. While positive statements and feelings affirm and reinforce the positive.

When you repeat a positive statement with the accompanying positive emotion and belief your brain registers that experience as being true. This reinforces your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, which in turn triggers your actions and responses.

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Claude M. Bristol

It’s important to activate both the positive thought and the positive feeling behind your intention if you want to create something different than what you are currently experiencing. Thoughts are the language of your brain and feelings are the language of your body, together they create the reality of your life’s experiences. Activated together they can create change.

“When you hold clear, focused thoughts about your purpose, accompanied by your passionate emotional engagement, you broadcast a stronger electromagnetic signal that pulls you toward a potential reality that matches what you want.”
– Dr. Joe Dispenza, author of “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself”

 

Positive affirmations, which are positive declarations of what you desire, can be used to strengthen and create positive qualities in your relationship. Read the affirmations below, or create your own, to create the relationship you desire.

10 Affirmations for Strengthening Loving, Joyful, and Intimate Relationships

(Click the hearts to Tweet the affirmations)

love heart relationshipI am in a loving and supportive relationship.

 

love heart relationshipMy spouse hears and understands my needs.

 

love heart relationshipI communicate clearly and effectively with my partner.

 

love heart relationshipEach and every day my love grows stronger in many ways.

 

love heart relationshipI forgive the past and move forward with joy and love.

 

love heart relationshipI am sexually fulfilled in a passionate, loving, intimate relationship.

 

love heart relationshipEach day is a new adventure to learn and grow together.

 

love heart relationshipAs I take the time to nurture myself I nurture and strengthen my relationship.

 

love heart relationshipMy relationship is filled with abundance and prosperity.

 

love heart relationshipPeace, joy, and love abound in my relationship.

 

Affirming the positive, loving relationship you want on a daily basis with a clear intention and feeling will strengthen your relationship and help you create the partnership you desire.

By Carolyn Almendarez


I want to hear from you. What are your favorite relationship affirmations? Share in the comments below.


Carolyn Flynn is a Relationship Expert and author of Heal Your Grief, SMART Talk, and Holiday Peace And Joy.