On Thursday after my presentation a woman shared with me her lovely gratitude practice that she uses to go to sleep. I wanted to share it with you.

Each night after getting into bed she does this meditation until she is asleep. One by one, she slowly thinks of each person in her life, and thanks them for the ways they have helped her.

Research has been done recently on the practice of gratitude and how it affects health. Gratitude strengthens the immune system, decreases heart disease risk, and motivates you to take good care of yourself by exercising and getting regular check-ups. This emerging field is called ‘postive psychology.’

In my clinic, many people describe lying in bed at night worrying, thinking about their ‘to-do’ list or otherwise problem solving. These thoughts are stressful, and prevent them from sleeping. Doing this gratitude meditation can be a better way to engage your mind that is actually sleep-promoting. If you are stuck thinking in the night, try this and let me know how it works!