Thanksgiving has passed this year, but it shouldn’t stop us from practicing gratitude in our daily lives.
Practicing gratitude is showing thankful appreciation for what you receive or your circumstances. It’s acknowledging the goodness in your life. Several studies have shown that gratitude is strongly associated with happiness. But how can showing appreciation make you happier? Here are the scientifically proven benefits of practicing gratitude.
1. Gratitude cultivates motivation.
When you’re putting effort into something important, and someone appreciates you for it, what do you mostly feel? Do you want to stop doing it, or are you more motivated to continue?
Gratitude makes us feel more inspired to work and have a more positive outlook on things that we do. This is especially true in the business world. Company leaders who remember to praise or say a simple “thank you” motivate their employees to work harder. The result is also the same when you practice self-gratitude. You should be able to appreciate yourself and your achievements as it motivates you to continue what you’re doing.
2. Gratitude enhances self-esteem.
Although self-esteem is known as a personality trait, it’s flexible and can be developed through life experiences. One aspect that shapes one’s self-esteem is gratitude. A study on athletes showed that those with higher levels of gratitude have increased self-esteem over time.
One major factor in the reduction of self-esteem is comparing oneself to others. When we focus on the achievement of others who have more money or better jobs, we lose focus on our own successes. Being thankful for what you’ve achieved, whether big or small, allows you to work on yourself and appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
Read more: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as an Entrepreneur
3. Gratitude improves your mental health.
Being grateful reduces toxic emotions like envy, frustration, and regret. Practicing gratitude also helps ease the symptoms of anxiety and depression. This may be due to the positive feelings that gratitude cultivates. When you see the world and be thankful for what you have, you will have less reason to be sullen and be more inspired to wake up.
4. Gratitude opens the door to better relationships.
Gratitude doesn’t only have emotional benefits; it also has positive social outcomes. For example, couples who constantly express gratitude to their partner feel more positive toward each other and more comfortable in expressing concerns about their relationship. This encompasses all types of relationships—family, work, and friends. You can even form new relationships just by saying a simple “thank you” to kind strangers.
5. Gratitude improves physical health.
You may think that the effect of gratitude is only in the mind and emotions, but studies have shown that regular practice of gratitude has measurable positive correlations with physical health. This is mediated by improved psychological health and healthy activities.
Conclusion
Note that there are some exceptions to the generally positive results from studies about the benefits of gratitude. Saying “thank you” doesn’t always result in better overall well-being. Gratitude is accompanied by emotional maturity. So you shouldn’t just say it; you must also truly feel grateful.
