How Developing an Attitude of Gratitude Can Change Everything
What is Gratitude?
The holidays are a time when we often hear the words gratitude and thankfulness. What is gratitude really? By definition, it is the quality of being thankful and a tendency to show appreciation for what one has. Seems so simple when stated as a definition but it is not so easy in application. We live in a stressful world and it can be easy for our brains to latch on to the negative but research has shown that developing a habit of gratitude will make you happier and less stressed. Not only that, it can help children do better in school, create more positive action in a person’s daily life (such as exercising more) and help you thwart your biological adaptations that aren’t so helpful any longer.
Affirming that good things happen increases a sense that there is goodness in life. We do not deny that there are also hardships by doing this, however, our brains are wired to see threats so we have to work and create a habit to balance this important survival mechanism that we needed to evolve and continue our species. Generally, we don’t need to constantly be on alert to predators trying to eat us or life threats in our daily lives so working toward creating a habit of gratitude can help us to quiet this part of our brain.
How do we Increase Gratitude?
Journaling once a week increased a person’s happiness level in research conducted by Robert Emmons and his colleague McCullough. They had people write down 5 things they were grateful for, both big and small things, and it significantly affected their well-being in a positive manner. Emmons wrote a book called Thanks!: The New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier explains the science behind this simple technique. Other researchers found that when you sent your thanks to others, such as writing a note or letter to someone telling them you are grateful for them, your happiness increases even more. It’s more beneficial if you do this in person, whether verbally or by handing someone a letter telling them how much you appreciate them. E-mailing or texting someone was not as beneficial to happiness increase although that’s not to say it’s not worth doing! It definitely is!
These simple activities are just that. Simple. But they have a profound affect on our well being not only mentally and emotionally, but physically as well. People who did gratitude journaling regularly made better choices overall regarding their health, from eating better to getting more exercise. It’s amazing what we can do by slightly shifting our brain habits and doing a little bit of gratitude work. So I challenge you this week to write down 5 things you are grateful for each day for 7 days. After a week, try writing a letter to someone you are thankful for and hand it to them in person. If you need help there are amazing courses, such as the Science of Well-Being course offered by Yale on Coursera.org or you can join my 7 day gratitude challenge on my Instagram page @soulvibrationwellness. There are also great apps like Presently to help you get in the habit of writing down gratitude by sending daily notification reminders. Whatever you decided to do, I encourage you to take the time because your wellness is worth it! Here’s to a healthier, happier you this holiday season!