The Power of Gratitude
Over the past holiday, many of us took time to experience thankfulness – we expressed gratitude for our family, friends, and pets and reflected on the concept of gratitude.
Remember the feelings you experienced? Research shows that if we can find ways to feel this way – at least for a few minutes – every day, we can see benefits all year round.
Of course, it can be hard to find the good in your life when it feels like nothing is going right. But finding little ways to be grateful can unlock a powerful emotion that can help boost your mental and emotional well-being. Gratefulness is defined as the “appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself and represents a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation” (Sansone & Sansone, 2010, p. 18). Let’s discuss why gratitude is so important and how it can help you feel better.
The Benefits of Being Grateful
Studies have shown that feeling grateful has many health benefits. It can reduce stress, promote better sleep, reduce inflammatory responses, and even make us more resilient when faced with adversity or trauma. Gratitude can also make us more compassionate toward ourselves and others, which helps us build strong relationships with those around us. Finally, expressing gratitude promotes positive emotions such as joy, contentment, peace, and an enhanced sense of personal well-being (Sansone and Sansone, 2010). All these things combined lead to a happier, healthier life overall.
How to Cultivate Gratitude
Cultivating gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated—it just takes some practice and dedication. One way to cultivate gratefulness is by writing down three things you are thankful for each day. You could note something minor, like a cup of coffee in the morning, or something more significant, like having a roof over your head at night. Another great way to cultivate gratitude is by taking time daily to appreciate the people around you–friends, family, or colleagues. Write them a note thanking them for everything they do for you or call them to say thank you!
Finally, don’t forget to take time out of each day to appreciate yourself! Make sure you remind yourself of all the wonderful things that make you unique and special–because if we don’t show ourselves love first, then we won’t be able to show love outwards, either!
Being grateful can have immense benefits for our mental health and well-being. It helps us reduce stress levels, get better sleep, build stronger relationships with others around us, and ultimately leads us towards living a happier life overall! So why not take some time today (or every day) to express gratitude for all the wonderful things in your life–big or small? You might be surprised how much better it makes you feel!
Contact us here for more information on Breathe Easy Therapy’s services and how we can help you find gratitude every day.
References
Hazlett, L. I., Moieni, M., Irwin, M. R., Haltom, K. E. B., Jevtic, I., Meyer, M. L., Breen, E. C., Cole, S. W., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2021). Exploring neural mechanisms of the health benefits of gratitude in women: A randomized controlled trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 95, 444-453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2021.04.019
Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2010). Gratitude and well being: the benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 7(11), 18–22.
