The Hormonal Power of Gratitude 💖

How Thankfulness Can Boost Your Mood Naturally 

If you’ve ever felt like your emotions are on a bit of a roller coaster lately — one day full of energy, the next day just… off — you’re not alone. During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can change how we feel both physically and emotionally.

What’s really happening? As progesterone begins to decline (and estrogen and androgens can decrease or even increase), the brain chemicals that keep us feeling happy and balanced — like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA — can fluctuate too. That’s why you might feel less motivated, more anxious, or even a little flat, even when “nothing’s really wrong.”

But here’s the beautiful part: your mindset can help rebalance those same brain pathways.  Practicing gratitude — something as simple as writing down three things you’re thankful for each day — can actually activate the brain’s reward centers, increasing dopamine and serotonin naturally.

Think of it as a mini “neurochemical reset.”
When you pause to notice what’s good — even tiny moments like your morning coffee, a kind word from a friend, something that made you laugh, or a quick prayer of gratitude before bed — your brain releases a gentle wave of feel-good hormones. Over time, this helps lift your mood and even makes your body more resilient to stress.

💫 Try this tonight:
Before you go to bed, jot down three small things that made you smile today. They don’t have to be big — sometimes the smallest joys make the biggest difference.

Gratitude won’t replace lost hormones, but it can decrease cortisol levels helping support your body and mind as you move through this new chapter — helping you feel grounded, calm, and more like yourself again. 🌿