Ending The Year With Gratitude
The Chemical Benefits Of A Gratitude Habit
Building a Gratitude Habit
When was the last time you said “thank you” to yourself for creating the life you’re living right now?
Sure, there are probably parts of your life you wish were different—and how amazing is that? It’s an opportunity to create something new or complement what you already have.
As the year comes to a close, I personally feel at a threshold. If I’m brutally honest, I was at another threshold a year ago too.
Cultivating non-attachment and trusting the unknown has been, and continues to be, the greatest lesson of all. That, and realising my own power—though I doubt I’ll ever reach the end of that journey. I imagine that’s something I’ll explore until the very end of my life.
Reflecting on 2024
Looking back at 2024, I feel immense gratitude:
For the people I’ve met and the relationships that have deepened.
For those I’ve temporarily or permanently lost contact with.
For the experiences that taught me, whether they were pleasant or uncomfortable.
For the delightful sensorial experiences (I am a Taurus, after all).
And for the many things, events, and people I’ve already forgotten—because they too have shaped this year.
This week, I was guided to reflect on my top three and bottom three moments of the year. To my surprise, it was hard to pinpoint the “bottom three.” They felt more like feelings rather than specific events. But as I reflected, something came through: even in those low moments, I could see the positive. On some level, they had to happen to pave the way for something better.
Still, I noticed a pattern. My “down” moments were marked by:
Fear
A need to control or know
A disconnection from myself
In contrast, my “up” moments were characterised by:
Being in nature
Guiding or participating in ceremony
Feeling completely aligned with my experience
Surprising myself with accomplishments I didn’t think I was capable of
Being receptive vs. controlling
During those high moments, I was in trust, aligned with my heart, connected, and open to receive with no expectation of outcome.
What About You?
I won’t share a full list here, but I’ll leave you with this:
What are you most grateful for this year?
Who are you most grateful for?
Which experience taught you the most?
When did you feel most aligned—your whole body vibrating with electricity?
The Science Behind Gratitude
This year, I started a gratitude habit with my nephew. Every day, we share three things we’re grateful for.
Gratitude has a profound effect:
It shifts us from scarcity (fear, envy, or other feelings) into trust, abundance, and joy.
Note: joy isn’t the same as happiness. Joy is about cultivating contentment with the present moment, regardless of external circumstances.
On a biochemical level, gratitude activates the brain’s reward system. It triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin—chemicals that promote a sense of well-being and connection.
Gratitude rewires the brain to focus on the positive, which makes it easier to notice the good things in our lives. This doesn’t mean bypassing challenges, but it gives us the tools to navigate them with resilience and grace.
Closing Thoughts
As we move into the next year, I invite you to build a gratitude habit. Start small:
Write down three things you’re grateful for each day.
Share them with a friend, partner, or loved one.
Let gratitude become a daily practice—not just an end-of-year reflection. The more we practice gratitude, the more we embody trust, abundance, and joy.
Here’s to a heart-aligned, connected, and open 2025.
With love,
Camille
