The Neuroscience of Gratitude: Not Another Toxic Positivity Talk
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The Neuroscience of Gratitude: Not Another Toxic Positivity Talk
The experience of gratitude enhances positive emotions in us. While we can be more or less wired to feel gratitude as a personality trait, we also have passing feelings of gratitude, alongside a dissipated ‘mood’ of gratitude (or lack of it) in our lives.
The ‘practice’ of gratitude suggests we mindfully incorporate studied and science backed practices to habituate more gratitude into our daily lives.
What might be the benefits of mindfully incorporating a gratitude practice into our lives?
Consider the evidence for physiological benefits of gratitude in your personal experience?
What other supportive and life affirming behaviours might a lens of gratitude compound in you?
What would be the social implications of showing up as a person with a strong gratitude practice?
Together we’ll discuss our experience of gratitude in action on our mood, our habits and on our relationships.
But there’s an important pitfall to avoid.
On the other side of gratitude, toxic positivity is the pressure to only display positive emotions, and suppress our negative emotions, feelings, reactions, or experiences. It invalidates human experience and can lead to trauma, isolation, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Misunderstood, a gratitude practice could err us towards not recognising and honouring our negative emotions, which can contain important and instructive information for us. We’ll discuss the pitfalls of toxic positivity and consider the nuance within our emotional landscape, so we can avoid suppressing our negative emotions in pursuit of only the positive.
On confirmation of your place, the host will share the private East Nashville location with you.
The purpose of this group is for professional women who are called to explore their personal development at this time, to come together in the spirit of sisterhood and support, with guidance and facilitation from an ICF accredited Executive Life Coach.
You might like to make a note of any books, podcasts or other resources you have found personally helpful which you would like to share with the group.
She Shines is an in-person women's coaching group in East Nashville with a focus on personal development for women. We will come together monthly to reflect on themes like personal identity, values and strengths, boundaries, personal story, archetypes, limiting patterns and beliefs, conflict and negotiation in personal relationships, negative self talk and authentic connection and belonging.
There will be the space and time to get to know each other and offer mutual support and sharing as we navigate integrating and balancing the feminine and masculine roles we play in our home-lives and work-lives. This is a small group for women to awaken and develop their personal resilience, confidence and self-trust.
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver
The host will share the private East Nashville location with you on confirmation of your place at the event.