What is gratitude and why is it so important?

Gratitude is being appreciative and thankful for the things you have in your life and is the seed of happiness. It is grace personified. When you practice gratitude, you attract and give birth to even more goodness in your life. You have complete control over practicing gratitude. And when you express gratitude, you feel better and happier.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology researcher who has won grants for her research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness, found those feel-good emotions of joy and positive well-being are measured by happiness. She also found it included a deep sense of worth, meaning and purpose.

Gratitude is good for your health

Studies have shown that gratitude is good for and reflected in your health. When you are thankful, you are more likely to exercise, make better food choices and be more mindful of your health. Studies have also confirmed gratitude lowers stress, blood pressure, pain reduction, and even benefits heart health.

There are also psychological benefits as well. Practicing gratitude increases self-esteem, enhances positive emotions and makes us more optimistic. It activates neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine, which we associate with pleasure, and serotonin, which regulates our mood. And it causes the brain to release oxytocin, the feel-good hormone tied to feelings of trust, social bonding and feeling connected.

Gratitude helps combat depression

Numerous studies have shown that gratitude can help combat depression. Since depression often involves negative self-views, gratitude can help protect against those views.

An Italian study found that gratitude supports how we view ourselves. When we reduce self-criticism and are more forgiving of ourselves, gratitude buffers against feelings of inadequacy. Researchers found gratitude is connected to a less critical, less punishing and more compassionate self-relationship, thus it helps keep us from being too hard on ourselves.

Resources from PositivePsychology.com and the Mayo Clinic’s Health System’s Discover Gratitude program include exercises, videos and journals to help implement more gratitude in your life to support a positive shift to improve your physical and mental well-being.

Gratitude linked to contentment

Studies in 2018 and 2019 have shown that Finland ranked number one in the United Nation’s World Happiness Report. Respondents also included people from Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland who have ranked at the top for the happiest people in the world. The report consisted of a survey for global happiness that ranked 156 countries by respondents of their own lives.

The report found the respondents didn’t chase happiness but were more accepting, content and grateful. They also had high levels of social trust. This resulted in less stress, and pressure and more time for what they enjoyed.

Make gratitude a habit

Practicing gratitude is a mindful choice. So, this holiday season and all the days to come, try to implement gratitude in your everyday life. Look up and be thankful to see the stars, the moon, and the sun. Be grateful for all the people who are sharing your life journey because they are gifts. And remember to be grateful for life itself.

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