When was the last time you took a moment to ruminate on all the good in your life?
With Thanksgiving, a time when our attention is drawn to the idea of giving thanks, fresh on our minds I wanted to take a moment to discuss the life-changing effects of Gratitude.
So what is gratitude? And why should you be thinking about it?
Gratitude is a strong and deeply-rooted emotion of appreciation. It originates from days when our survival depended on the help of others. The positive feeling of gratitude can inspire us to show appreciation, which will, in turn, make others more likely to help us again in the future. This is perhaps why today we feel the most grateful when we give or receive an act of kindness.
Interestingly, gratitude has a broadening effect on how we think and at how we look at the world. Here are three ways gratitude can benefit our minds:
Stress and Pain Relief
The neural networks that light up when we socialize and experience pleasure are also activated when we’re feeling grateful. These regions also regulate heart rate and arousal levels and are associated with stress relief and, thus, pain reduction. Feelings of gratitude create a more relaxed body state, thus also reducing stress.
Improve Health Over Time
Because gratitude relies on the brain networks associated with social bonding and stress relief, grateful feelings lead to health benefits over time.
Reduce Depression
The mental practice of gratitude may even be able to change and rewire the brain. Some evidence suggests that gratitude may induce structural changes in the very same parts of the brain that are impacted by depression.
For further reading on the topic, check out these articles:
The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity
A Potential Role for mu-Opioids in Mediating the Positive Effects of Gratitude
Unlike other beneficial health practices, cultivating a gratitude practice can be done in very little time with no costly devices, memberships, or equipment.
If it’s been a while since you’ve evaluated the good in your life, a simple way to start is to think of three things that have gone well for you and identify the cause. Go a step further by imagining what your life would be like if these positive events had not occurred and expressing your gratitude verbally or in writing to someone that has had a positive impact on your life.
What are you grateful for this year? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
Believe Grow Glow 