The Benefits of Gratitude Through Cancer
By: Emily Headley, MS, EP-C, RYT -200, Orlando Health
Explore the transformative positive effects that expressing gratitude can have on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. We all know our cancer journey can be overwhelming and downright frightening. Yet we do have the tools to combat these feelings.
Tools to relieve stress and anxiety – the stress hormone, Cortisol bows down to gratitude. By reducing this stress hormone, gratitude promotes relaxation and resilience.
Gratitude triggers the release of Oxytocin (the love hormone), Dopamine (the pleasure molecule), and Serotonin (the mood stabilizer) – tools to promote healing and feelings of peace, connection, and calmness.
Learning to express gratitude can not only give us peace of mind but promote our physical well-being.
Emily Headley, MS, EP-C, RYT-200 is an Exercise Physiologist with the Orlando Health Center for Health Improvement. She obtained her Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida and is credentialed through the American College of Sports Medicine and Yoga Alliance. Emily enjoys working with chronic disease prevention and intervention through educating the community on practical ways they can improve lifestyle behaviors and increase physical activity.