Why Gratitude Is the Gut-Healing Superpower You’re Probably Ignoring
Let me be real with you.
You can take all the supplements. Eat the squeaky-clean diet. Run every lab. Hack every hormone.
But if you’re ignoring the psychological root of your illness? You’re not going to fully heal. Period.
This month, we’re diving into the often-ignored truth: your mental and emotional health directly affects your physical body. And today, we’re starting with something that sounds simple but is actually radical:
Gratitude.
Yep. That fluffy word people love to slap on mugs and Pinterest boards? It’s not just cute. It’s powerful.
And I’m going to show you how it can literally transform your health.
The Real Reason You Might Still Be Sick
You might think your symptoms are purely biological.
But after a decade of helping clients with IBS, bloating, SIBO, hormone imbalances, infertility, and more, here’s what I know:
If you don’t address the mental + emotional load you’re carrying, your body will keep the score.
And gratitude? It’s the first step to offloading that weight.
I learned this the hard way.
In college, I was in the thick of anxiety and depression. It made no sense—I had loving friends, a great college, a vibrant community. But I felt more broken than ever. I was exhausted, spiritually raw, emotionally done.
And then I read a verse that changed everything:
“Give thanks in every circumstance.”
I was FURIOUS.
"You want me to give thanks for THIS?!"
But deep down, I knew... I was holding onto bitterness like it was my job.
And it was killing me.
Bitterness Makes You Sick. Gratitude Sets You Free.
Here’s the science:
- Bitterness creates chronic stress.
- Chronic stress keeps your body in fight-or-flight.
- Fight-or-flight shuts down digestion, sleep, hormone balance, and immune function.
- Boom: chronic illness.
If you’re stuck in anger, resentment, or victimhood? You’re literally making your body sicker.
Gratitude isn’t about being fake.
It’s about shifting your brain OUT of stress mode.
It’s about telling your nervous system:
"Hey, we're safe now. You can stop fighting."
And when your body hears that? Healing begins.
The Moment Gratitude Broke My Chains
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was lying on my apartment floor, sobbing, trying to thank God for my depression.
Every cell in my body screamed NO.
But I did it anyway.
And something broke.
It didn’t heal me overnight.
But it cracked open a door I didn’t even know existed: a door to freedom. To softness. To hope.
It helped me stop waging war against my own body.
And that shifted everything.
You can remove toxic foods. You can remove toxic people.
But you can’t remove your own thoughts.
Your mindset is your internal environment.
Make it nourishing.
4 Research-Backed Ways Gratitude Changes Your Physiology
Ready for the nerdy part? 😎 Here’s what gratitude actually does:
- Lowers cortisol (bye stress hormones)
- Increases serotonin + dopamine (hello happy chemicals)
- Improves sleep quality
- Strengthens immune response
You don’t need another supplement.
You need a gratitude practice.
How to Start a Gratitude Practice (That You’ll Actually Stick To)
Let’s get practical. Here are 4 ways I teach clients to start:
1. Start a Morning Gratitude Journal
- Keep it by your bed
- Write 3 things you're grateful for daily
- Keep it simple: hot tea, sunlight, a good poop 💩
2. Say It Out Loud (Seriously)
- In the car
- In the shower
- To your dog
- Your brain believes what it hears
3. Be Thankful for the HARD Stuff
- This one’s advanced (but next-level powerful)
- Say: "Thank you for this pain."
- Not because you like it—but because it taught you something
4. Invite Others In
- Ask your friends or family: "What are you thankful for today?"
- Shift the vibe of your dinner table
Gratitude spreads. Like wildfire.
Gratitude Isn’t Just Woo-Woo. It’s Medicine.
Too many women think they can heal their gut with probiotics alone.
(Spoiler: they can’t.)
You need:
- A healthy gut microbiome
- A calm nervous system
- A belief that your body isn’t your enemy
Gratitude checks ALL those boxes.
Because when you’re thankful, your body stops fighting.
And finally... it can heal.
Stop Waiting. Start Practicing.
Healing is hard.
But gratitude makes it lighter.
So if you’re tired of being stuck—start with this one, simple step:
Say thank you.
Even when it doesn’t make sense.
Even when it hurts.
Especially when it hurts.
And watch what happens next.
Ready for the Real Healing Work?
I help women like you heal from the inside out.
If you’re sick of dead-end protocols and ready to explore root-cause healing that includes your mind, body, and spirit...
🎯 Apply for the Better Belly Blueprint today.
Because gratitude is just the beginning.
Episodes mentioned in this episode:
- Ep. 1 - My Story & How I Healed Myself from IBS
- Ep. 3 - Why Probiotics Aren’t Healing Your Gut
- Ep. 9 - Is My Sickness Biological, Psychological, or Spiritual?
- Episode 417, Biz Chix Podcast, “The Science of Mindset with Allison Jordan”
Other links from the show:
Jordan Lee Dooley, The SHE Podcast
HEAL YOUR GUT TODAY!
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