Gratitude changes our personality. Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between optimism and gratitude. When we focus on the richness and gifts found in our everyday experiences, we become less self-focused. Because gratitude helps us feel more capable, it also increases our self-esteem.
Research has shown that consciously practicing gratitude can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. In fact, studies have found that a single act of thoughtful gratitude produces an immediate 10% increase in happiness, and a 35% reduction in depressive symptoms.
Here, five reasons why giving thanks is actually good for you. Counting blessings boosts your health. Emmons' and McCullough's research showed that grateful people had less depression and stress, lower blood pressure, more energy, and greater optimism. Slow down the aging clock.
In short, gratitude can boost neurotransmitter serotonin and activate the brain stem to produce dopamine." Dopamine is our brain's pleasure chemical.
Gratitude brings happiness
Expressing gratitude not only to others but also to ourselves, induces positive emotions, primarily happiness. By producing feelings of pleasure and contentment, gratitude impacts on our overall health and wellbeing as well.
Research has even shown that expressing gratitude releases oxytocin or the “love hormone” which builds a greater connection and bond between two people (Gratitude: The Simple Way to Make Your Relationship Better and Happier, 2021).
Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. If a pill that could do this, everyone would be taking it.
Gratitude Can Help You Feel More Connected to Others
“Gratitude may help people feel more connected to others and the world around them, which can lead to increased happiness and decreased loneliness,” says Dr. Brandon.
When we express gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin — two hormones that make us feel lighter and happier inside.
So we know that gratitude makes us more emotionally balanced, happier, and more positive. It makes sense, then, that all of these positive effects result in social benefits as well. After all, happy and healthy people are fun to be around!
An attitude of gratitude affords us the opportunity to change the way we think, feel and behave. Being thankful is a positive mindset that each of us should adopt. A thankful heart and attitude of gratitude go hand in hand to help us focus on the positive things around us — those things for which we are grateful.
Psychologists find that, over time, feeling grateful boosts happiness and fosters both physical and psychological health, even among those already struggling with mental health problems.
Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Gratitude is truly a feeling.
And there's a lot of research over the last decade that's shown people who consciously practice gratitude tend to be happier and less depressed. There are emotional, social, personality, career and health benefits that have been studied and associated with gratitude.
Your emotions is very important and Psychologists have scientifically proven that one of the greatest contributors to your happiness is the gratitude that you show! “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.
Social Benefits Of Gratitude
Research suggests that gratitude inspires people to be more generous, kind, and helpful (or “prosocial”); strengthens relationships, including romantic relationships; and may improve the climate in workplaces. Several studies have supported the link between gratitude and prosocial behavior.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions, because it not only enables us to appreciate what we already have, but also helps to attract new blessings into our lives.
Gratitude triggers the happy hormones in the brain and fills us with feel-good vibes. When gratitude is forced or is bypassing pain it can compound feelings of failure and hopelessness.
Invalidating Your Emotional Experiences
If you've had this thought, heard it, or said it yourself, you may have experienced a negative impact of gratitude. When you compare yourself to the circumstances of others, you risk minimizing and/or invalidating your emotional experiences.
Especially when the good things in our lives are hard to see. Many things that we might usually do to practice gratitude still apply. Across a range of ways to practice gratitude, my colleagues and I note four skills: NOTICE-THINK-FEEL-DO.
By developing an Attitude of Gratitude, we can feel more fulfilled and joyful each day. An Attitude of Gratitude is a regular habit to express appreciation for all different parts of life, no matter how small. If you concentrate on what you have, you'll always have more.
Gratitude improves one's outlook on life. Appreciating what you have can make you feel more optimistic and satisfied and experience less frustration, envy, and regret. It also tends to result in increased self-esteem and confidence, which also improves mood.
Practicing gratitude helps us to release toxic and negative emotions, such as envy and resentment, while strengthening our positive emotions and feelings, such as happiness and empathy. People actively practicing gratitude have noticed a decreased interest in material possessions and an increase in empathic feelings.