Why Gratitude is Good for Your Health

Have you ever wondered why gratitude is good for your health? Let’s break it down and look. But first let’s acknowledge that even though Thanksgiving is synonymous with gratitude, this time of year can bring up a lot of challenging emotions for people. If you find that the holidays are difficult, know that you’re not alone.  

Gratitude is the practice of acknowledging the positive things in yourself, others or in a specific situation. It’s helpful in affecting a positive mindset because if you can identify even one small thing that you are grateful for, you’ll often find that it leads you to another thing, and then another. While gratitude doesn’t automatically make challenges disappear, it works to even the scales when things feel overwhelming.  

Gratitude is known to positively impact those who practice it, especially when that practice is a daily part of life. Identifying a consistent time to practice gratitude in your day will help you to establish this practice so that it becomes automatic. For some that may be before bed or immediately upon waking. Perhaps it’s a family practice that happens around mealtime or on the drive to work or school. Gratitude can look like a silent thought exercise, thankfulness spoken out loud, or collecting your thoughts in a journal. Find what works for you and stick with it. 

Gratitude benefits both your mental and physical health. When you practice gratitude, your brain is required to focus on one positive and specific thought, and this can decrease your anxiety. While more studies are needed to verify the specifics, people who practice gratitude have more positive relationships, higher self-esteem and possess a more positive outlook on life. 

Physically, practicing gratitude is known to support cardiovascular health, improve your sleep and reduce stress. These three things can greatly impact your overall health. 

If you find this time of year particularly stressful or if you experience bouts of depression near the holidays, why don’t you give a gratitude practice a try? Your gratitude practice doesn’t have to take a long time, you don’t need any special tools, and you can practice it anywhere and anytime – including right now.