Hello Yoga-Friends ~ Another GratiTuesday is here. Seems like this happens at least once a week. No plans for a gratitude topic spring to mind, so naturally I go to Google and type in, “today in gratitude,” along with today’s date. I love Googling. It satisfies my insatiable quest for random information and the common human drive for instant gratification.

Imagine my delight with the top search response linking me to a Wellness@Work landing page for a webinar entitled “The Power of Mindfulness and Gratitude.” I missed the webinar which was held earlier today, but was so struck by the description blurb that I have included it below in its entirety:

"Many of us had a plan for what 2020 would look like, and COVID-19 likely wasn’t included in that plan.  Day to day life feels out of our control right now, but we can control our own emotional responses to this “new normal”. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude can transform the brain and help us feel more peaceful and less reactive.  We can’t be anywhere else but where we are right now.  Working toward accepting this new reality can put us on the path toward new strategies to deal with it.” 

Source: https://www.uoguelph.ca/wellnessatwork/events/2021/08/cmha-webinar-power-mindfulness-and-gratitude

I mean… Right?!! All of it. Exactly spot on. To top it off, many of us intended, imagined, hoped, and/or prayed that the specter of COVID-19 would not haunt our 2021 the way it is now. Dang Delta!

Still the purpose of this webinar offered by University of Guelph (located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada) – by the way, this is a name I will likely work into conversations because it is such fun to say out loud – this webinar offered by U of Guelph, was apparently intended to offer mindfulness and gratitude tools for managing mental and emotional wellbeing during this chaotic and uncertain time. Bravo! Acknowledging and addressing our mental and emotional wellbeing is every bit as important as caring for the health of our physical bodies.

We can’t be anywhere else but where we are right now.”

Incidentally, there is actual science backing up their claim of brain changes, as well as the calming and restorative affects of mindfulness and gratitude practices. I have written about this extensively within these GratiTuesday essays. Should you be interested in the research end of this topic, the most recent essay to reference a study can be found in the July 13th entry.

Back to the blurb above… that bit that reads, “We can’t be anywhere else but where we are right now.” Nailed it. That is the truth, and the whole truth, and nothing but the unvarnished truth. This is the essential foundational truth underlying many meditation and mindfulness practices.

While I am not totally sure whether this webinar was offered solely to the University’s employees, or the students or to everyone in Guelph, I am wholly certain all of the above would, will, and now have benefited from it’s content. Hooray for U of G! Go Guelph!

As always, each Tuesday we invite one another to express one thing – in the comments field – for which you are grateful, and/or Share that sentiment as a post on your favorite social media site. It needn’t be lofty and can certainly reflect something we usually take for granted. I’ll go first… I AM so happy and grateful for Wellness@Work. Now your turn. I AM so happy and grateful now that/for: ___________________________________________

#laurelblossomyoga #omofficeyoga #corporateyoga #corporatewellness #virtualyoga #virtualmeditation #reiki #om #meditation #mindfulness #gratitude #gratituesday #wellnessatwork #guelph #universityofguelph

Hello Yoga-Friends ~ On this GratiTuesday I celebrate gratitude spillover into the workplace. While this isn’t the first time I have introduced the idea of workplace gratitude practices, this is the first time I am introducing peer-reviewed research supporting the benefits of workplace gratitude practices.

As it turns out, Professor Shannon Taylor from the University of Central Florida collaborated with fellow Professor Maureen Ambrose and doctoral student Lauren Locklear for a study on the effects of gratitude practices in the workplace. Their article, “How a gratitude intervention influences workplace mistreatment: A multiple mediation model,” was published in Applied Psychology, a leading peer-reviewed journal.

First off, I love their reference to utilizing gratitude as a method of “intervention”. This tickles me to no end.” Oh, Gratitude, you are a singularly powerful tool in the feel-good arsenal. Locked and loaded with gratitude for mood-boosting lift off, both personally and professionally!

Oh, Gratitude, you are a singularly powerful tool in the feel-good arsenal.”

Okay, so their study seeks to find solutions to workplace discord, which – when not addressed – can result in loss of productivity, high employee turnover and may even lead to litigation. The ‘Gratitude Intervention Study’ (my title) consisted of simply writing down a list of things to feel thankful for each day. In this case, the participants kept gratitude journals about their colleagues for a ten day test period, recording what they appreciated about their co-workers. The study findings reveal that applying workplace gratitude interventions decreased incivility, gossip, and ostracism, while also delivering the expected increases in reported wellbeing . Wow! Impressive.

Incidentally, there are other ways to introduce gratitude into the workplace rather than keeping a daily journal. For example, consider the Gratitude Wall, or Kudos Board, on which colleagues display post-its expressing appreciation for co-workers, and/or celebrating team successes. Alternatively, within our new paradigm – with many of us continuing to work from home – this could take shape through a virtual message board or email blast, broadcasting gratitude company-wide.

My favorite part about workplace gratitude practices is that everybody wins. Those who practice gratitude boost their mood contemplating gratitude about and for their colleagues. Win. The colleague(s) on the receiving end also benefit from the expressed goodwill from their colleague(s). Win. The workplace (a.k.a. the employer) benefits from the improved attitudes, behavior and wellbeing of their employees. Yay, gratitude!

As always, each Tuesday we invite one another to express one thing – in the comments field – for which you are grateful, and/or Share that sentiment as a post on your favorite social media site. It needn’t be lofty and can certainly reflect something we usually take for granted. I’ll go first… I AM so happy and grateful for post it notes. Now your turn. I AM so happy and grateful now that/for: ______________________________________________________________________

#laurelblossomyoga #omofficeyoga #corporateyoga #corporatewellness #virtualyoga #vitualmeditation #reiki #om #meditation #mindufulness #gratitude #gratituesday #corporateculture

Hello Yoga-Friends ~ Happy GratiTuesday! Is it? This is pretty much how I started last week’s post. As an opening line, it still works. Here in the U.S.A., we are about to move into a sixth month of this pandemic paradigm. We are about to move into a sixth month of… … … uncertainty.

Our uncertainty is sweeping; affecting every area of our lives. For some, restrictions are, or have been, tentatively and incrementally lifted, albeit in compliance with justifiably strict safety protocols. As a nation we witnessed areas that opened back up too early – with too few restrictions – experience dramatic increases in COVID-19 infections. Not unrelated to the pandemic, there continues to be – again justifiable – political and social unrest. Economically we are riding a roller coaster; some sectors are soaring and thriving, while others are withering, and diving.

There are so many unanswered questions adding to our feeling uncertain about what the future holds in store for us. What are the anticipated ripple effects of a vastly increased remote-work-and-play culture? What about the unanticipated ripple effects? Will schools and universities open in the fall? Will we ever feel safe again?

It is no surprise to me that a growing number of people are experiencing rising anxiety and new or worsening depressive symptoms. Researchers at Harvard, Rutgers, Northeastern and Northwestern universities report that more than 27% of people in the U.S. are exhibiting symptoms of moderate to severe depression, which is three times higher than pre-pandemic survey results. https://laurelblossomyoga.com/www.kunc.org/post/survey-pandemic-deepening-depression-across-country#stream/0 https://laurelblossomyoga.com/covidstates.org/

“Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.”

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) updated its COVID-19 mental health “Coping with Stress” webpage on July 1st, 2020. “Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.” The CDC page offers a list of symptoms to be aware of, healthy coping strategies and activities to build individual resillience, as well as community. It also features resources for more general information and a useful list of Hotlines addressing a variety of emergency circumstances. https://laurelblossomyoga.com/www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Researchers at Harvard, Rutgers, Northeastern and Northwestern universities report that more than 27% of people in the U.S. are exhibiting symptoms of moderate to severe depression, which is three times higher than pre-pandemic survey results.

You may be wondering why a yoga and meditation teacher would be searching the world wide web for information about ‘C19-related’ anxiety and depression. Well, in the past few months I have witnessed an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms among my family, friends, students, clients and colleagues. What’s more, I am not immune. I am just as human as you are; just as vulnerable to anxiety, anger, frustration, overwhelm, and depression. However, having spent many years practicing ‘witness consciousness’ – observing the observer – I am less likely to spiral down the rabbit hole of depression. Instead, usually find that I am curious about the emotions I feel; allowing them to arise into my awareness without attachment or investment. Most of the time even strong emotions will quickly dissipate. Sometimes expressing emotion authentically is important to loosen my hold upon them. At other times, as I mentioned earlier in this post, I seek external perspectives such as that from the CDC and Harvard Medical School and my younger brother Jesse, a Shaolin Buddhist.

Guess what is listed among recommended healthy and effective coping strategies? Yup, that’s right: Meditation. So grateful for my meditation practices. So grateful to have found meditation recommended on the CDC’s website; validating meditation as an effective strategy for managing anxiety and depression.

One other item from the CDC list which I immediately re-adopted is:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

Good idea! Yes, please! Before the pandemic I mostly signed on to social media only for work-related posts. Sign me up for log me off. Hold me to it!

And you – yeah You… consider meditation. You are always welcome to join our growing yoga and meditation community. Follow the links to either https://laurelblossomyoga.com/events-page/ or https://laurelblossomyoga.com/www.facebook.com/events/188430429258998/

As always, each Tuesday we invite one another to express one thing – in the comments field – for which you are grateful, and/or Share that sentiment as a post on your favorite social media site. It needn’t be lofty and can certainly reflect something we usually take for granted. I’ll go first… I AM so happy and grateful for meditation, meditation, meditatioooooon. Now your turn. I AM so happy and grateful now that/for: ____________________________ #laurelblossomyoga #omofficeyoga #corporateyoga #corporatewellness #virtualyoga #vitualmeditation #reiki #om #mindufulness #gratitude #gratituesday #meditation #pandemic #anxiety #depression #resilience