Seven Exercises to Stay in an Appreciation Mindset

November is a wonderful time to take steps to be more present, count your blessings, and deeply appreciate all the goodness in your world. Doing daily exercises, while creating new habits of being more present in an appreciation mindset will spill over into your day-to-day attitude. It has a ripple effect in all you encounter. When you focus your attention on feeling more appreciative, you will see how much lighter your day flows and will be able to pay attention to how others are feeling around you.

You attract what you focus on. If you are in a bad mood, have you noticed how that energy continues unless you choose to change your mindset? If you become consciously aware of your feelings and make an effort to upgrade them into a more positive mindset, you can create a more empowering habit that will be more supporting to you. It is a mindset switch, and it can take time to develop. When you get it, it is amazing to see how it will improve your life and outlook on your life.

Here are some easy exercises that you can do to help you stay in the appreciation state mindset:

FOCUS ON APPRECIATION

Before getting out of bed, start listing or thinking about all the things, people, your health or experiences that surround you that make you feel deep appreciation. Life is a gift. Do this for two to five minutes and truly feel the gratitude and appreciation that you feel in that higher vibration in the heart area. Take a few deep breaths and set your intentions for the day to stay in the appreciation state.

FOCUS ON KINDNESS

Find ways to give a helping hand or do something nice for others, a random act of kindness. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just letting someone go in front of you in the checkout line, giving a compliment, asking to help someone who you can see needs assistance or smiling and saying “hello” are simple gestures that may have a huge impact on someone’s day.

FOCUS ON THE BEAUTY OF NATURE

Spend some time outdoors. Listen to the birds, the wind blowing in the trees, observe the beauty that Flagstaff has to offer. We are surrounded by beauty, and it is easy to get over worked or stressed by the day-to-day routines. Taking time out for five to 15 minutes will help you stay present and grounded in nature. Take your shoes off and walk barefoot in the grass or sit under a tree.

FOCUS ON POSTITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

You can combine this with your focus on your appreciation morning routine. Upon waking, after you spend some time feeling appreciation, you can write out a list of positive affirmations that you repeat three times. It takes 21 days to create a new habit and change the neural pathways in the brain. When you change your thoughts, you change your life. Positive thoughts create positive experiences and attract positive people.

KEEP AN APPRECIATION JOURNAL

If you have a hard time coming up with things you are appreciative of or grateful for, keep a notebook just to write down things you appreciate in your life, or you can end your day by writing about all the things that you are appreciative for that happened that day. Look for the day-to-day miracles. When you start to notice them and focus your attention on them, you will notice more.

FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH

When things don’t seem to go your way or you feel yourself becoming anxious or stressed, take a breath. Focus on inhaling for a count of eight and exhaling for 16, for three to five cycles. You can do this with your eyes closed or open. Breathing calms the nervous system and can improve focus and productivity.

FOCUS ON MOVEMENT

Appreciate the fact that your body is magnificent, and movement gets the energy flowing. Focus on moving more than not. It can be as simple as taking a walk, doing yoga or dancing more. Have fun while you are doing it. Moving your body releases natural endorphins, gets your energy to flow and helps your mind relax.

Be in appreciation. Tell the people in your life how and why you appreciate them and work to truly be present. FBN

By Christina Kovalik

Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020.    For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.