Gratitude- the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness.
Sometimes life gives us every reason to be upset, think negatively, or focus on the things we don’t have, which can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression. By shifting our focus from negative thoughts to positive ones we can literally turn around our entire mood and ultimately our entire day.
According to the professor of Psychology at UC Davis, Dr. Robert Emmons (considered by many to be the world’s leading authority on gratitude, there are many beneifts to expressing gratitude.
Benefits of Expressing Gratitude
- It is nearly impossible to be upset or have a bad attitude when being thankful for something.
- Encourages us to take better care of our health, strengthen our relationships, and prevents us from taking things for granted.
- We experience more positive emotions like optimism, enthusiasm, and joy.
- It reminds us that there is good in the world outside of our own self.
- Reduces anxiety, stress, and depression which can also promote better sleep.
- Lowers blood pressure and strengthens our immune system.
- Increases our overall well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction.
By practicing being grateful you will become more at peace with yourself and your life.
Gratitude is universal. We should be thankful for the good AND bad days in our lives. Good days for providing happiness and the bad days for offering wisdom and learning experiences.
Most importantly, showing more appreciation for everything we have been blessed with in our lives encourages us to give back. Whether it’s giving back our time, love, money, or sharing a simple smile to a stranger or loved one, giving can have a huge impact on someone’s life and even the world. Yes, you can literally change the world by simply expressing gratitude.
To read a few simple ways on how to express more gratitude click here.
