EPISODE · Apr 30, 2025 · 43 MIN
46. Motion of Gratitude with Shannon Missimer
from The Positive Persistence Podcast with Ian Bowen · host Ian Bowen
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 CONNECT WITH IAN BOWEN:Website: https://watchmemindset.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianrbowen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianrbowenYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PositivePersistence-ch8fk Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
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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46. Motion of Gratitude with Shannon Missimer
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