Gratitude is the concept of being thankful and showing appreciation. While it seems like a very simple concept, the truth is that many people do not regularly practice gratitude. Research has shown that the practice of expressing gratitude is associated with many health benefits- both physical and mental health. Expressing gratitude on a regular basis can help to improve your quality of sleep, your mood, and your overall quality of life. Practicing gratitude can also help with anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

Why is gratitude so powerful?

The premise behind gratitude is to be more appreciative for the things you already have in your life, rather than giving more attention to the things you feel you are lacking or constantly reaching for something new in hopes that will make you happier. With a mindset of gratitude, you are able to focus on all that you have, rather than what you feel you are lacking. When you focus your attention more on these good feelings, it can help you to be more patient and more kind, it can help strengthen your relationships, and it can help you to feel happier and more content with your life as a whole. There is a quote that says, “You cannot be anxious and grateful at the same time”; if you are feeling very anxious about something, try to refocus your attention by thinking of 3 things you are grateful for in that moment.

So, do I have to go around telling everyone I am grateful for them?

Well, no. Doing so will definitely help boost your mood and theirs, but simply allowing yourself to feel more grateful for the things in your life will also produce health benefits. A practice I recommend to my clients is this: right away in the morning, before even getting out of your bed, think of 5 things you are grateful for. Having this brief but powerful moment of gratitude immediately in the morning can help set you up to have a better day. Morning gratitude sets the tone for your day and allows you to be more grateful for things as they come up as you go through your day.

Allowing yourself to adopt a more grateful approach to your day-today life can completely change your life for the better.