Gratitude & Coronavirus Resilience

Did you know that Gratitude is actually good for your immune system?

College students who performed a “Loving Kindness” gratitude meditation entered into a  sustained physiologic state of calm with increased heart rate variability (HRV), a greater sense of connectedness to others, & increased positive emotions (joy, interest, amusement, serenity and hope).

With just 4 simple sentences …

• May you feel safe.
• May you feel happy.
• May you feel healthy.
• May you live in peace.

Positive mood in turn is associated with higher lymphocyte count AND function – meaning you have more white blood cells that can fight infection even more efficiently!

During these times of collective anxiety, I encourage you to practice a  Loving Kindness meditation every day. with your kids. It really is one of the best ways to stay calm AND boost your immune system.

🙏So I invite you now, to take a few moments, to practice Loving Kindness with me.

💗Start with yourself. Send yourself loving kindness & gratitude for the health that you have and all that you’re doing to keep you and your family healthy & happy.

• May I feel safe.
• May I feel happy.
• May I feel healthy.
• May I live in peace.

💗Next think about each of your family and friends, and send them loving kindness.

• May you feel safe.
• May you feel happy.
• May you feel healthy.
• May you live in peace.

💗Think about your neighbors, your community, and the medical staff on the frontlines, doing all they can to keep us safe & healthy, and send them loving kindness.

• May you feel safe.
• May you feel happy.
• May you feel healthy.
• May you live in peace.

💗And finally, think about the world. Send loving kindness to everyone in the world, that we may all stay healthy & happy and come out of this crisis together, as a loving worldwide community.

• May you feel safe.
• May you feel happy.
• May you feel healthy.
• May you live in peace.

To learn even more ways to support your family’s immune system through mindfulness and stress-reduction, take a look at my articles 6 Steps for a Stress-Proof Child and Mindfulness for Kids for more great ideas.

Stay well. We’re all in this together.

In gratitude,

xo Holistic mama doc – Elisa Song, MD💕

References:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23649562
• https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0ec4/ca4cbefa851f3d078f83ea8ef61b4a623bf9.pdf