Heather here, from FamilyVolley.com. It’s the season of gratitude and we have made our lists of all the things that bless our lives. But, it isn’t just November that we should be thankful. Here are 6 reasons (proven by research) that we need to be grateful all year long.
1. Gratitude improves our health
People who are grateful have fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier overall. Grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health, they exercise more, and are better at regularly going to the doctor.
2. Gratitude improves our mental health
A study done by a leading gratitude researcher confirms that gratitude increases happiness and reduces depression. It reduces negative emotions such as envy and regret and reduces stress. I don’t know about you, but I am open to anything that can reduce my stress! Expressing gratitude, even during the worst of situations, makes us more resilient and better able to cope with disappointment and trauma.
3. Grateful people sleep better
A study done in 2011 concluded that taking a few minutes before bed every night to write down the things we are thankful for, can lead to a better nights sleep! What? So basically, we should all be faithfully keeping gratitude journals.
4. Grateful people are more empathetic to others, even when others aren’t nice.
It’s true, showing and feeling gratitude makes us less likely to be unkind, more likely to be open to others perspectives and circumstances, and have less desire to hurt others or see them get hurt. This means with an “attitude of gratitude” we are less likely to look for ways to “get back”at someone, or hurt their feelings on purpose.
5. Gratitude fosters relationships
Did you know that expressing gratitude to someone new you meet, makes them more likely to want to develop a continuing relationship? Yep, when we show gratitude to others, they are more likely to want to be our friends. This leads to new opportunities for friendships and strengthens relationships we already have.
6. Gratitude makes us feel better about ourselves.
Individuals who show gratitude are less likely to compare themselves to others. They don’t waste time wishing for, or resenting those, who have more money, or bigger homes, or fancier cars. Instead, they are grateful for what they have, and in turn, happy when others do well and have what they need also.
Regardless of the “season or “time of year”, showing gratitude and being grateful will improve our lives all the way around.
While we are expressing gratitude, let me take a sentence to tell you how grateful I am to Amy, for the opportunity to contribute here on TheIdeaRoom, and to each of your for reading and commenting and sharing your thoughts and ideas. Seasons greetings to all of you!
Question: How many of you keep gratitude journals?
I keep a gratitude journal. It helps me so much on a daily basis. It is simple, but I make it simple. That way I know I will do it. I love these reasons to be grateful. They make me want to work harder at it.
I love your gratitude journal! Such a great way to focus on the daily things you are grateful for. xo