Gratitude is one of the hottest topics in the field of positive psychology right now. In English, positive psychology means the study of happiness.
It turns out that the practice of gratitude on a regular basis has a tremendous impact on health, wellbeing and happiness. In other words, gratitude is good for you. Study after study has now confirmed these benefits and this article will discuss some of these findings.
1. Gratitude Improves Emotional Wellbeing
Various studies have shown that some of the emotional benefits of gratitude include content, inner peace, acceptance, optimism and patience. Having these qualities makes you better able to cope with the ups and downs of life – and more importantly, better able to handle stress.
2. Gratitude Improves Physical Health.
A large number of studies have found that gratitude can improve physical health on many levels, including:
- It helps you sleep better
- It promotes the relaxation response in the parasympathetic nervous system, making you better able to cope with stress and negative emotions
- It makes you exercise more
- It strengthens the immune system
- It promotes faster healing and recovery
- It can help reduce pain
- It lowers blood pressure
- It gives you more energy and vitality
- It can lengthen your lifespan
3. Gratitude Improves Professional Performance
The benefits of gratitude extend to the workplace, where they can improve productivity and performance. Studies have shown that the positive emotional health you gain from being grateful will help to:
- Make you a better leader, manager or mentor
- Stay motivated to achieve goals
- Improve decision-making
- Enhance creativity and innovation
- Help you think and plan long-term rather than short-term
4. Gratitude Improves Personal And Social Relationships
Amazingly, your regular practice of gratitude will have an impact on the people around you. Gratitude will make you more understanding and compassionate and as a result, you will go out of your way to express your appreciation for others.
People will naturally enjoy being around you and will reciprocate those feelings and the result will be improved social relationships and stronger family bonds.
5. Gratitude Can Transform Your Personality
The really exciting thing about gratitude is that all of the above benefits come together to reshape and mold your personality and literally transform your life.
Research has shown that friends, family – and in fact, everyone – love being around a grateful person. They describe the person as being kind, considerate, humble, sympathetic, calm under pressure, supportive and just a pure joy to be around.
How can your life not change when your gratitude spills out to everyone who comes into contact with you? As the circle grows, you will be surrounded by likeminded people who appreciate you just as much as you appreciate them!
Gratitude creates some positive emotions that are very powerful. This improves your health, boost your career and strengthen your relationships and make you more resilient.
The benefits mentioned here are all scientifically proven. Research is still ongoing to tap into more potential benefits of gratitude. Until then, you have more than enough to dramatically change your life. Another added benefit it that science has concluded without a doubt that gratitude is good for you!
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