Why Gratitude Matters

One simple practice can change our lives and our brains.

Gratitude.

Gratitude, appreciation, thankfulness, acknowledgement, recognition, or gratefulness is basic to our nature as socially evolved beings who survived and developed by helping and being helped. 

Even though, over the last two years of living with the pandemic, suffering the loss of loved ones, livelihoods, and former freedoms, our recognition of the things that truly matter has increased, it may be inspiring to learn about this practice’s amazing effects on our brain and life.  

Here’s why gratitude matters:

Gratitude is effective in helping us recognize the good things, and also acknowledging how others help create goodness in our lives.  Skillful gratitude practitioners are even able to be appreciative of challenges and difficulties for the inherent lessons they contain.

Thankfulness can be an emotion (feeling of joy), and a personality trait (an inclination to be grateful). It is a spontaneous feeling, but is becoming evident from research that it has tremendous value if it is consciously practiced.  Studies reveal that feelings of gratitude originate in specific brain parts, and that regular practice rewires the brain to handle circumstances with compassion and calm.  

The benefits are:

• Strengthens the immune system
• Reduces stress and pain
• Regulates sleep patterns
• Increases feelings of pleasure and joy
• Lessens loneliness and isolation
• Cultivates generosity and helpfulness
• Boosts optimism, motivation, and success
• Decreases depression and anxiety

Being mindfully attentive of your surroundings, encounters, and interactions predisposes you to become grateful, because you are present to notice little acts of kindness: a warm hug, a sympathetic ear, the friendly welcome, the food you are eating, and even an umbrella in the rain.  

To begin a daily gratitude practice,

• Decide that you will be more attentive in your encounters.  According to research, vowing or taking an oath will cause you to follow through, so consider vowing to increase your determination in adopting this practice. Focusing on what’s working and going right throughout the day can curb impatient, negative words, and shift from negative emotions and rumination. Use post-it notes or some other visual object (a person, a book, an altar, a stone, etc.) to remind you of your commitment to remain mindful of your good fortune.
• Other people play a crucial role in the comfort and pleasure we enjoy.  Without their effort and hard work our lives would be much more difficult.  So reflect on their contribution every time you switch on a light, pour a glass of wine, curl up in a warm blanket, or step into your comfortable home from the cold outside.  Acknowledge that someone somewhere in the world made it possible for you to enjoy these comforts.  Also think about the contributions of your family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues who make your life simpler or more comfortable and express thanks to them.
• Notice the many things we take for granted in life; little things like smelling a cup of good coffee, seeing the sunrise, feeling the touch of a loved one’s hand, and then recognize that many people don’t have what you have. Training ourselves to notice the small graces in our lives grows acceptance, makes us flexible and resilient, helps form new or strengthen current relationships, and make amends.

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Regular gratitude practice will help you feel more physically and mentally relaxed. Also when you are grateful it reminds you of our connection to others and it relieves stress, which leads to greater wellbeing and improved health over time.  Gratitude can also be intrinsically rewarding.
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May your gratitude flourish.
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