Whether we spend our time dwelling on things we’re grateful for or noodling on things that upset us matters.
The key lesson :: Shifting our attitudes to focus on giving thanks — not just during the holiday — has a direct link to our wellbeing.
Proof :: Psychologists asked half of the participants in a study to write a few sentences about things they were grateful for from that week. The other half wrote about irritations or complaints. After 10 weeks, the group that centered on gratitude felt more optimistic about life than their counterparts. The gratitude group saw physical changes as well. They exercised more and made fewer doctor visits than the group that focused on the negative aspects of life.
Proof :: Research by UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, author of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, shows that simply keeping a gratitude journal—regularly writing brief reflections on moments for which we’re thankful—can significantly increase well‑being and life satisfaction.
Activate it :: Knowing that gratitude is good for your mood, resilience, and relationships or reading articles like this one about its benefits, doesn’t actually bring those benefits to your life. You have to practice it. Actively, intentionally, consistently.
Gratitude is a skill. Here are 3 Ways to Practice it.
- Notice good things, look for them, appreciate them.
- Savor, absorb, and really pay attention to those good things.
- Express your gratitude to yourself, write it down, or thank someone.
The takeaway :: We feel grateful for all sorts of blessings in life, but most of us rarely take the time to think about those things — let alone write them down. But studies show that taking an active approach to gratitude can have tangible and lasting effects on our mental wellbeing.
Let’s try it!
