This time of year, thereβs a lot of focus on being thankful. And thatβs a good thing! But what about the rest of the year? Science shows that gratitude and happiness are linked. The more grateful you are, the happier you are.
Gratitude Benefits
1. Better relationships –Β Saying βthank youβ is more than just good manners. When you thank someone you just met, theyβre more likely to want to pursue a longer relationship with you. Whether itβs a quick thank you email to a co-worker or a thank you with a nod to someone who holds the door for you, those two words really are magic when it comes to relationships.
2. Better health – People who feel grateful experience fewer physical aches and pains. This may be in part because grateful people are also more likely to eat well and exercise. Thus, they also tend to live longer. In addition, holding a feeling of gratitude also reduces the harm of emotions like envy, resentment, frustration, regret, and depression.
3. Better empathy – Grateful people are more adept at putting themselves in someone elseβs shoes. As a result, theyβre more likely to feel empathy for others and less likely to seek revenge.
4. Better sleep – Studies show that spending as little as 15 minutes writing down what youβre grateful for before going to sleep leads to longer, more restful sleep.
5. Better self-esteem – People who live with gratitude are less likely to compare themselves with others. By simply being grateful for what they have and who they are, self-esteem increases, and with it, performance.
6. Better mental resilience – Studies show that people recovering from trauma are less likely to experience PTSD and other related problems when they focus on what theyβre grateful for. Recovery time is also quicker with gratitude.
How to Develop Gratitude
1. Keep a journal – This is great for helping with sleep, as noted in number 4 above. You only need to write down 3 to 5 things.
2. Switch your thoughts – When you notice yourself becoming upset, frustrated, or angry, stop and replace that thought with something youβre grateful for instead.
3. Be direct – Call, write, or share on social media β it doesnβt matter how you do it. When you tell others what youβre grateful for, you shift everyoneβs focus toward gratitude.
What is Financial Gratitude?Β β‘Boost Your Money Mindset for Better Wellness
Switch it up. As humans, we tend to get bored easily. So change how you express your gratitude, so you donβt give up doing it all together.
