You might not be feeling grateful having lived through lockdowns, furloughs, home educating or whatever else the Covid pandemic has thrown your way – but the practice of gratitude can help work through difficult times in our lives.

Research has shown how the practice of gratitude can lead to surprising improvements in wellbeing, even after truly earth-shattering events.

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A study of Indonesian earthquake victims discovered that gratitude had a positive impact on their health and PTSD symptoms (Lies et al, 2014). Research with survivors of 9/11 showed that gratitude helped to improve their resilience (Fredrickson et al, 2003; Kashdan et al, 2006).

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What is Gratitude?
 

The world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, Robert A Emmons, PhD, defines gratitude as having two components –

• an affirmation of good things in the world, and in our lives, without ignoring the bad 

• recognizing the sources of this goodness as being outside of ourselves, a humble dependence on others to help us achieve the goodness in our lives

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The Benefits of Gratitude

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Reduce Anxiety
When we express and receive gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel good, enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.

 

Improve Sleep
The University of Manchester (2009), conducted a study into how gratitude affects sleep. Practicing gratitude was shown to create more positive thoughts at bedtime which allowed subjects to

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• fall asleep more easily

• experience better quality sleep

• wake up refreshed and full of energy.

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Reduce Stress and Increase Resilience

Expressing gratitude regularly can markedly reduce the level of cortisol, the stress hormone and significantly increase in levels of immunoglobulin A, which plays an important role in the immune system.

Cardiac patients who were encouraged to practise daily gratitude exercises reported better sleep, less fatigue, and lower levels of cellular inflammation (Mills et al, 2015).

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Make It A Habit

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• appreciate and thank yourself

• keep a Gratitude Journal

• show gratitude to others

• enjoy the moment

• take time to notice the world around you

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Being thankful for the good things in your life makes you feel happier and builds your resilience. Developing an attitude of gratitude is a simple way to improve your happiness and health – and with daily practise you can make this a habit!

 

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” 

― Maya Angelou

 

“Count your blessings”

 

― My Grandma Ada