November is the season of gratitude, we all know this.
But for me, gratitude isn’t just about reflection at the end of the day. It’s about being present in the moment, feeling thankful while life is actually happening, not just when we’re looking back.
So often, we talk about building the capacity to handle pain or difficult moments. But what about our capacity for joy? Do we give ourselves permission to fully experience and absorb the good when it’s right in front of us?
We often say, “the body keeps score,” and I remind my clients that your issues are in your tissues. But here’s a twist-aren’t gratitude and joyful moments stored there too?
Last weekend, my husband and I volunteered at a food bank. During a short break, a fellow volunteer started demonstrating how your wingspan supposedly matches your height. Before long, a whole group of us had our arms stretched wide, laughing and comparing measurements.
In that moment, I paused and took it all in, the smiles, the laughter, the shared silliness, the warmth of community. I felt immense gratitude for that snapshot of connection and service. I wanted to bottle it up. That’s what it means to be present with gratitude, to notice and store that goodness in your “memory bank” for the harder days.
When you catch yourself in a moment of joy, your body remembers. Your nervous system resets. Your heart sends signals to your brain that release those happy hormones. Over time, this repetition rewires your attention to notice more of what’s good, and the cycle of gratitude continues.
Questions to Ponder
- Can you pause and recognize when something good is happening to you?
- What does your mind do in those moments, does it stay present or jump to the past or future?
- Are you building the capacity to fully feel joy and gratitude as they happen?
- Can you bring your awareness back to your body when gratitude arises?
This month, as you reflect on all you’re grateful for, I challenge you to also be present with those feelings in real time.
When you write in your gratitude journal, ask yourself: Was I present when that moment happened, or am I only recalling it now?
If you’re recalling it, try to re-feel it in your body. For example, if you were grateful for a hug from a loved one, can you still feel that warmth, that connection? Let your mind remember the moment, and your body remember the feeling.
And when gratitude arises in real time, say it out loud. Call it out. Share it. Not only will that help you anchor the moment, but it also helps others notice and store their own gratitude, too. Imagine if I had said, “Wow, this moment is so fun and joyful!” at the food bank, how that simple acknowledgment might have rippled through the room.
Remember: your body keeps score. Let’s add more to that scoreboard, moments of appreciation, presence, and joy that you can return to whenever you need them.
Gratitude for My Clients
As we talk about gratitude, I can’t help but think of my incredible clients.
I’m deeply grateful for each of you who:
- Had the courage to reach out for support.
- Continue to show up for yourselves and do the work.
- Trust me with your emotions and experiences.
- Push beyond your comfort zones to grow and build new skills.
Your commitment to personal growth and your willingness to try new tools inspire me every single day. Working alongside you is one of the greatest privileges of my year.
Reset & Recharge: A New 10-Week Program
As we head into the new year, I’m excited to offer a 10-week commitment to yourself-a structured yet flexible program designed to help you reset and recharge for 2026.
This includes five sessions (every other week) to help you:
- Refresh and realign your coping tools
- Reduce stress and build resilience
- Reconnect with your sense of calm and clarity
Whether you’re navigating new job stress, caring for a loved one, or simply feeling drained, this is your opportunity to realign and start the new year strong.
Wellness for Your Workplace
If you’re a business owner, consider giving your team the gift of wellness.
I now offer a low-cost employee wellness benefit, a 1:1 support model that helps employees:
- Shift from anxiety to peace
- Access their high-functioning, intuitive mindset
- Communicate more effectively
- Simply feel better and more grounded at work
It’s a simple, small business friendly alternative to an EAP, and it helps your employees (and your business) thrive.Schedule a 15-minute discovery call with me to explore how we can partner together in 2026.
Want to read more on Gratitude? Read more on the blog from last week here.
