Discover 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Living in Gratitude

Discover 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Living in Gratitude
(You probably haven't considered these)

Thanksgiving isn't the only time you should practice gratitude. It is helpful every single day of the year! Many studies have found there are great health benefits in making gratitude a year-round habit. To enjoy the many mental and physical benefits of gratitude all it takes is a little bit of introspection.

Here are seven surprising benefits you can gain from developing an attitude of gratitude that you might not know about.

Benefit #1 – More Patience

​Researchers at Northeastern University have found that people who felt grateful for the little everyday things in their lives were more patient and better able to make sensible decisions, compared to those who didn't feel thankful on a daily basis.

Benefit #2 – Improved Relationships

​Feeling grateful toward your partner can improve numerous aspects of your relationship, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology. This includes stronger feelings of connectedness and overall satisfaction as a couple. When you express your gratitude to your partner, it will very likely be reciprocated. Being grateful for each other can significantly help your love life, and as a result, bring more romance into your life.

Benefit #3 – Improved Sleep

​Feeling grateful can help you sleep better and for longer. This is most likely because you have more positive thoughts before you go to sleep, which can help to soothe the nervous system. Think of your day and be grateful for all the things that transpired. Feel grateful in advance for the next day! You can journal your gratitude or count your blessings like you might count sheep.

Benefit #4 – Eases Depresssion

​Gratitude is very powerful. Recent studies have shown that by practicing the "three good things" exercise daily, you can see considerable improvements in depression and overall happiness, sometimes in as little as a few weeks. Simply think of three good things or moments that happened during the day. 

​It is literally impossible to be sad (or mad) while focusing on what you are grateful for.

Benefit #5 – Promotes calm and less anxiety

It’s so beneficial to start a Gratitude Journal and list at least 5 things you are thankful for each day. You will find if you keep up this practice, you will feel more calm, peaceful and experience less anxiety.

Benefit #6 – Experiencing better physical health

Yes, it is true. As you move away from negative thoughts and immerse yourself in being grateful, your health will automatically improve. Letting yourself be free from fearful thoughts by practicing gratitude instead will improve your physical health. Numerous studies have examined the relationship between gratitude and physical health markers such as cardiovascular health, stress and inflammation, pain perception, and sleep which promotes better physical health. One study found that keeping a gratitude journal improved diastolic blood pressure. Another study found that people who kept a gratitude journal for 14 days reported fewer headaches, clearer skin, less stomach pain, and reduced congestion.

Benefit #7 – Gives you happiness that lasts

Numerous things can give you a boost of happiness, from a compliment to a chocolate. Unfortunately, thesekinds of instant gratification can quickly disappear and leave you craving more. On the other hand, gratitude is something that can lead to a much more sustainable form of happiness because it isn't based on immediate gratification, but rather a sustained peaceful state of mind. If you take the time to regularly express gratitude and thankfulness for the things in your life, you are more than likely to see long-lasting happiness.

Gratitude doesn't take anything fancy to practice, but can change your life exponentially. Taking just a few minutes a day to show your thanks can have substantial benefits on both your mental and physical health.