The Power of Gratitude
With Thanksgiving fast approaching it is a great time to focus on the things we are thankful for, and more than that, focus on gratitude. Gratitude goes much deeper than just being thankful, it is a deep sense of appreciation from within yourself.
So what really is gratitude and why is it such a powerful tool? There are so many ways people define gratitude. It could be the emotion of focusing on the positive things in life, an attitude and consciousness of what you are given, or simply being thankful for everything tangible and non-tangible in your life. Developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways you can bring a sense of happiness, pride, and enjoyment to your life. Focusing on gratitude not only has a positive effect on your thoughts and emotions, but can also affect your physical health, mental health, career success.
In Greater Good Magazine, the article “Why Gratitude Is Good” by Robert Emmons, one of the leading scientific experts on gratitude highlights some of the benefits reported by people who practice gratitude consistently. (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good)
Physical Benefits:
- Stronger immune systems
- Less bothered by aches and pains
- Lower blood pressure
- Exercise more and take better care of their health
- Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking
Psychological Benefits:
- Higher levels of positive emotions
- More alert, alive, and awake
- More joy and pleasure
- More optimism and happiness
Social Benefits:
- More helpful, generous, and compassionate
- More forgiving
- More outgoing
- Feel less lonely and isolated.
Robert Emmons has an amazing 5 minute video on Cultivating Gratitude that is worth watching!
Visit https://youtu.be/8964envYh58
Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the ways to help promote gratitude in your life. There are many options available online with pre built in prompts to follow daily. Daily journaling has been proven to improved your well-being, and adding a layer to just focus on gratitude van take the experience on step further. Visit https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal for some amazing tips on keeping a gratitude journal.