How Gratitude Improves Mental Health, Self Love & Well Being
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:
- Improve mood & resilience
- Increase self-esteem
- Reduce stress & blood pressure
- Improve sleep
- Strengthen relationships
- Elevate happiness & life satisfaction
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:
- Write down 10 things you’re most grateful for.
- Read the list again and reflect:
- What are you grateful for?
- Who are you grateful for?
- Are YOU on the list?
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:
- Acknowledging Your Value Your worth is inherent — not tied to productivity, achievements, or roles.
- Appreciating Your Inner Self Recognize your uniqueness: your gifts, qualities, talents, and resilience.
- Accepting Imperfections Let go of the pressure to be perfect. Your humanity is not a flaw — it’s your beauty.
- Cultivating Self-Compassion Treat yourself with the same kindness you offer others. Your inner dialogue matters.
🌙 Benefits of Self-Gratitude Practicing self-gratitude can:
- Reduce emotional stress stored in the body
- Lower anxiety and blood pressure
- Improve sleep and quiet nighttime overthinking
- Encourage deeper self-care
- Help reframe challenges as growth Self-gratitude becomes a foundation for well-being.
📝 Gratitude Exercise #2: Reframing Gratitude
Now let’s shift the perspective.
- Write yourself as #1 on the gratitude list.
- Add three more things you’re grateful for.
- Next to each item, write: How did you show up in that relationship or experience? What did you contribute or create?
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:
- “I showed up with an open heart today.”
- “I honored my mental health.”
- “I kept my promise to myself.”
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.
