This time of year we focus on giving thanks for what we have and what has happened over the year that we area grateful for in our lives.Why do we do this, or even more fitting for most individuals is, do we really still do this? There is more reason to this than many individuals realize. There is a universal law that whatever you focus on, and what ever you give thanks for will increase in your life! It is literally a sign sent out to the universe saying “send me more!” Being thankful from a true place in your heart and not just because it is what you are “supposed to be feeling” will actually impact your body as well! You will almost immediately feel more healthy, vibrant, and energized. Try a few of the following exercises for yourself and experience first hand how you can feel gratitude in every cell of your body when it is sincere.

• Take a few minutes to lie down in a comfortable position. Bringing your awareness to your breath, noticing the rise and fall of your belly. Start bringing your awareness next to your physical body starting at your toes and working all of the way to the top of your head acknowledging every inch of your body. Give thanks to your body for all that it does for you in each moment, the things that it does consciously and unconsciously like; filtering impurities from entering your body, pumping blood flow through your system, absorbing nutrients so that you have energy to move, and so on.
• Write down a list of the things that you are thankful for having in your life; what things do you have that you appreciate, what people in your life do you appreciate, what good things do you appreciate about your body, mind and spirit. Take time with this to reflect back and truly allow yourself to experience gratitude for the things that you have written. If you have written about someone special call them and express all of those things that you may value in them.
• When you get together with friends challenge yourself to only speak of positive things and things that you are thankful for instead of allowing yourself to engage in a conversation which focuses on complaining about the things you don’t want in your life.

**Remember: What you focus on will increase in your life, so if you focus on the negative things in your life you will still attract more of that as well.** Take time after each of these exercises and notice how you feel. As you learn to notice how gratitude impacts your body you will be more likely to carry this feeling with you in everyday life.