There are numerous physical and psychosocial benefits of maintaining a regular gratitude practice. But true gratitude requires being intentional about reflecting on the full spectrum of the human experience - from the good and beautiful aspects of life to the bad and ugly ones - and gaining clarity about how all of it adds to a meaningful, worthwhile story.

The first step to true, lasting change is discovering your true self. Not your surface-level, socially acceptable, politically correct, and professional-networking-event self. But the gritty, cringe-worthy, profound, maybe a little shocking and scary, probably-should-keep-that-thought-to-yourself self. Only then will you be able to see yourself accurately, to develop compassion and love for all of who you are, to let go of the shame and regrets, to have a sense of gratitude for all of the circumstances that cultivated who you are, and to truly understand why you are a freaking amazing human whose authentic presence and voice and story matters so much to this world.