Print article This is a season where many of us observe the traditions of practicing gratitude – and of giving. Gratitude is a powerful human emotion. Thanking others, thanking ourselves, Mother Nature, or the Almighty can enlighten the mind and make us feel happier. Giving thanks to all the blessings in our life transforms how we interact with the world. It shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. By producing feelings of pleasure and contentment, gratitude impacts our overall health and wellbeing as well.
Positive psychology and mental health researchers in the past few decades have established an overwhelming connection between gratitude and good health. Simple practices like maintaining a gratitude journal, complimenting the self, or sending small tokens and thank you notes can make us feel a lot better and enhance our mood immediately. Research has found that participants—even those with sleeping disorders—who reflected on what they were thankful for before bed experienced significantly better sleep quality and duration.
I practice gratitude several times a day, including before bed and upon waking up. It’s become a part of my life. Here’s an exercise to get you started: Write down three things you’re grateful for every day.
Gratitude isn’t just a habit—it’s about changing our mindset. In cultivating virtues, like gratitude, our minds become healthy, and the body follows.
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with laughter and love.
Lisa
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