24: The Science-Backed Benefits of Gratitude 🤎 🦃

🤎 As we approach Thanksgiving, in today’s podcast episode I’m sharing something that has been so deeply on my heart lately: the relationship between gratitude and contentment - and how both Scripture and science show us just how life-changing these practices can be.

As a mom, a practitioner, and a believer, I’ve watched these two habits shape my mental health, my stress levels, and the atmosphere in our home. Gratitude is the spark… but contentment is the steady flame. And heading into a season that can feel busy or overwhelming, I wanted to offer you a gentle, faith-filled reset.

In this episode, I share:

🧠 The science behind gratitude

I walk through powerful research showing:

• How gratitude can lower cortisol by 23% (McCraty et al., 1998)

• Why gratitude improves sleep quality and helps reduce rumination (Wood et al., 2009)

• How gratitude boosts IgA — an important immune marker

• What brain scans reveal about gratitude activating the medial prefrontal cortex (Fox et al., 2015)

• How gratitude reduces inflammation and improves heart rate variability (Redwine et al., 2016)

📖 The biblical foundation for gratitude & contentment

I share Scriptures that shape my mindset and home during this season, including:

• “Give thanks in all circumstances.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

• “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” — Philippians 4:11

• “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” — Psalm 23:1

• “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” — 1 Timothy 6:6

🌾 Why gratitude leads to contentment

Gratitude is something we practice.
Contentment is something we grow into.
And when the two work together, they create profound emotional peace, spiritual groundedness, and physiological calm.