Every November it seems like all the social media platforms, blogs, and even mainstream media are talking about gratitude. I’m all for showing gratitude, but we should develop a gratitude mindset all year long, and not just Thanksgiving. Not only does it feel better to be grateful year-round, but there are several benefits for mental health.
According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, just a few of the mental health benefits of gratitude include:
- Elevated mood
- An increase in optimism
- Improved social bonds, and
- Better physical health
Harvard Medical School also found that giving thanks can make you happier overall. As they explain it, “Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible.” When you feel gratitude, you’re actively acknowledging the goodness in your life.
Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine reported that practicing gratitude actually can change your brain. Using fMRI scanners to measure brain activity, researchers found that people who feel more grateful have distinctly different brian activity. They said, “ While not conclusive, this finding suggests that practicing gratitude may help train the brain to be more sensitive to the experience of gratitude down the line, and this could contribute to improved mental health over time.”
Practicing gratitude doesn’t mean you have to be Pollyanna and happy all the time either. You also don’t have to share your gratitude publicly. Simply the act of looking for things to be grateful for and acknowledging them can help you to feel better.
As the old saying goes, “There is always something to be grateful for.” Even when times are tough, and even when there are moments of darkness – look for reasons to be grateful. It is said that the more thankful you are, the more you will attract things to be thankful for.
I challenge you today, and every day to look for things to be thankful for. Write them down, and reflect on them. I’m betting you’ll find even more reasons to feel grateful, and you’ll ultimately feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically as a result. While we’re talking about gratitude, I just wanted to share that I’m grateful for you. Thank you for reading this post.
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