7 Science-Backed Reasons Why You Should Practice Gratitude
You have had a day. Everything you thought could go wrong went wrong. You got stuck in traffic and ran late to work. You missed an important deadline and now your boss is mad at you. You get home only to have your partner berating you for not doing the dishes.
You’re stewing in negative thoughts. But what if you changed your perspective and reframed your thoughts? What if instead of complaining about everything that went wrong you focused on what went right?
Yeah, you may have run late to work but at least you have a job. You may have gotten off on the wrong foot with your partner but at least you have a loving partner around.
What would happen if you focused on the positives instead of the negatives? Research finds 7 science-backed reasons you should practice gratitude.
Researchers at Berkeley University recruited 300 students for a study on mental health. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups.
One group wrote gratitude letters, another wrote about negative feelings and experiences, and the last group didn’t write at all.
Those who wrote gratitude letters reported significantly better health at the 4 and 12-week mark.
Time heals all wounds
Results didn’t occur overnight. The mental health benefits were not immediately reported. It took time to collect a better sense of well-being.
In week one, there was no discernable difference between the groups. When they came back in week four, there was a gap between groups. Individuals in the gratitude group reported better mental health.
By week 12, there was a clear gap between those who did and didn’t practice gratitude.
Goodbye negativity
Participants in the gratitude group experienced a high percentage of positive emotions in their writing. They also experienced a lower percentage of negative emotions.
By shifting their attention away from toxic emotions, they had better mental health.
Nobody has to know
Participants in the gratitude group were not required to send their letters. Only 23% sent their letters. Those who didn’t send their letters still enjoyed the benefits of gratitude.
Changing your brain’s wiring
About three months after they started, participants were placed in an fMRI scanner. Individuals were given money from a nice person. They were told to pass the money on if they felt grateful.
People who were more grateful showed greater neural sensitivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for learning and decision-making. This suggests gratitude can train your brain to be more sensitive and lead to better mental health.
In the 3 Good Things study, healthcare workers were recruited based on the elevated presence of burn-out and trauma related to work.
32 participants participated in a two-week program where they were sent daily emails. The email would prompt them to answer two questions. “What are 3 things that went well today?” and “What was your role in bringing them about?”
Responses were analyzed and three common themes emerged.
They would have a better day at work
They developed supportive relationships
They made meaningful use of self-determined time.
Other positive benefits of practicing gratitude:
Relationships are better
Showing appreciation for others makes people more receptive to building an ongoing relationship with you.
It also helps to strengthen your current relationships.
Look at that body
People who practice gratitude experience fewer pains and aches in their bodies. They also take better care of their health.
Improved psychological well-being
Practicing gratitude improves positive feelings and decreases negative feelings.
Conclusion
There is no shortage of reasons to practice gratitude, from better health to improved relationships. By shifting your perspective, you can literally rewire your brain. In doing so, you become more attuned to all the good things happening in your life.
Why feel miserable when you can feel grateful instead? There are proven benefits to why you should practice gratitude. The way I see it, you have a personal choice in how you choose to live your life.
You can live in misery or you can live in joy.
With daily gratitude practice, you can change your life.
Ready to level yourself up and become the best version of yourself? Download my free journaling guide and join my email list today.
