96: Gratitude Is Choosing To Love Our Life More Than We Hate Our Pain

Our guest today is Lauren Blanchard Zalewski. She is a writer, speaker, passionate champion of all things gratitude, and a self-diagnosed “gratitude addict,” hence the name of her blog.  Having lived with chronic illness for over 20 years and hitting a very deep personal rock bottom in 2013, she has found that the single most powerful tool to aid in her emotional healing is gratitude.  Her year-long “Gratitude Project of 2016” on Facebook deepened her understanding of the effectiveness of this in a life-altering way.

She is the founder of the Facebook group “Attitude of Gratitude with Chronic Pain,” along with its several sister spin-off groups which offer various tools for healing and happiness for those living with chronic emotional and/or physical conditions.  Additionally, she hosts the weekly live broadcast, “Gratefully Living the Chronic Life,” which streams on both Facebook Live and YouTube on Thursdays at 8 pm EST.  Each week brings expert guests and new topics pertaining to living our best possible lives despite dealing with life’s curveballs.

Lauren is a voracious student of the human experience who has spent many years delving into intensive research into the power of gratitude as a powerful tool for those who endure life’s difficulties, such as pain and illness. Her mission, passion, and life’s work lie in spreading the message of gratitude as the ultimate ‘therapy’ for resilience, hope, joy, and intention even through the most difficult of circumstances.

Her first book, “The 5-Minute Gratitude Journal for Teen Boys: Quick Prompts for Wisdom, Courage and Confidence” was released in November 2021, by Rockridge Press.  Her next book, also by Rockridge Press, the “52-Week Intention Journal: Guided Prompts to Build a Practice of Reflection, Focus, and Meaningful Change” was released on March 29, 2022 and she is currently at work on her third title for Rockridge which will be out in September 2022.

Lauren has also been active in the non-profit sector, having served on the Board of Trustees of Chronic Pain Anonymous for many years. Her writing has been featured in Everyday Health, The Mighty, and Pain-Free Living.

IF you are interested in the book I mention during the Interview 1000 Gifts, I highly recommend it! 

Connect with Lauren on IG@gratitude_addict 

Did you know that I offer weekly movement classes to help you develop a healthy relationship with exercise & your body as you heal through chronic pain & illness?  Check out my WEBSITE & sign up today for your first class FREE. 

You can click the link in the bottom of show notes to leave a monetary contribution to future episodes today! <3