High achievers, listen up: What if gratitude isn’t just fluffy self-care, but a neuroscientific hack to rewire your brain for resilience? Shannon Missimer (founder of The Motion of Gratitude) shares her raw journey from postpartum depression to profound joy—and the exact gratitude framework that transformed her life (even when she could only be grateful for gravity).
Discover why gratitude isn’t about ignoring pain, but alchemizing it—and how to start a practice that actually sticks (no woo-woo required).
Key Takeaways:
1. How Shannon’s rock-bottom gratitude practice began with thanking the ground beneath her feet—and why this "absurd" starting point rewired her brain.
2. Why waiting to feel grateful before practicing it keeps you stuck—and how to create gratitude proactively (even on terrible days).
3. How morning/night gratitude rituals hack your reticular activating system to spot opportunities (instead of obstacles).
4. Shannon’s "Type A to Zen" shift: Why intentional gratitude (vs. robotic journaling) is the difference between busywork and breakthroughs.
5. How pairing gratitude with physiological tools (like breathwork) calms the nervous system 3x faster.
Timestamps:
00:00 - High Achievers’ Dilemma: Success Without Fulfillment
02:15 - Shannon’s Wake-Up Call: Postpartum Depression and a Husband’s Tough Love
08:30 - "Gratitude for Gravity" (The Practice That Changed Everything)
12:45 - Debunking "Woo-Woo Gratitude": The Neuroscience of Thankfulness
18:20 - How to Start a Gratitude Practice That Doesn’t Fizzle Out
25:10 - Morning vs. Night Gratitude: Which Is More Powerful?
31:40 - Breathwork + Gratitude: Shannon’s 2-Minute Stress Reset
38:00 - The 28-Day Gratitude Challenge (For Skeptics Who Hate Journals)
42:15 - Raising Grateful Kids: Shannon’s School Program for Students
Connect with Shannon Missimer:
The Motion of Gratitude: https://www.themotionofgratitude.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonmissimer/
The Motion of Gratitude Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@themotionofgratitude/podcasts
Connect with Ian Bowen:
Website: https://thepositivepersistence.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowen?lang=en
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk
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