Why is Gratitude Important to Your Health

There are many benefits to practicing gratitude, from improving your health to strengthening your relationships. In this article, we will explore the most important reasons why everyone should practice gratitude!

The importance of gratitude for your wellbeing

The benefits of gratitude are not just anecdotal. Research has shown that practicing the art of gratitude can have a significant impact on our physical and mental health. In fact, studies have found that people who feel grateful experience less anxiety, depression, and stress than those who do not practice this habit.

Gratitude is also often associated with happiness because it helps us to focus on what we already have in life rather than focusing on what could be lacking or missing from our lives. It’s easy to see why practicing gratitude would lead to a healthier mind and body!

What is Gratitude

Gratitude is a concept of appreciating what you have. It’s the ability to feel grateful for whatever comes one’s way, whether it’s tangible or intangible. You can be thankful for everything (even your issues) in your life and what is not yet in your life.

Why Practice Gratitude?

Practicing gratitude boosts your general happiness, fosters social ties, strengthens the immune system, rest well, reduces stress, and boosts self-esteem. Chances are if you are headed into depression or just sadness you can improve it by thinking of all the things you are grateful for.

Gratitude has a number of health benefits that are FREE for you. When you have a grateful frame of mind, you see the world with awe rather than take things for granted.

Gratitude Can make us Happier

Gratitude, by putting our attention on what we have rather than what we don’t have, may help us to be happier and avoid negativity from seeping in. When we practice gratitude, we become more optimistic about life. Having gratitude also attracts more positive people into your lives. It seems the ones in misery are attracted to others that are. Misery loves company. Wouldn’t the same be true for happiness?

Gratitude Can Improve our Physical Health

Are you under a great deal of stress? Bills piling up or just everything seems to be going wrong. Maybe you are getting up in the morning and dreading the day. STOP!!! A grateful attitude helps lower stress hormones which is good for your physical and mental health. If you are practicing gratitude, it will also help you to know what is causing you stress so that you can change it.

Start thinking of the times God has helped you out. I remember a few years back we were facing losing our home and having no home to move to. I know I did NOT want to be in hotels again. I prayed to God telling him I would face whatever challenge he had for me but I asked him if it were possible to get me a house with enough rooms for each of the kids.

I started thinking of all the times he had blessed me in life and I just felt so grateful. Most people that knew what we were facing were so surprised my health wasn’t deteriorating but I was so thankful for everything in my life that I wasn’t worried, instead, I was grateful.

I started making a few calls and found out we did in fact know someone that had a home above a business in this beautiful town. God is so great! He blessed us and I am so thankful for everything he has done.

Gratitude Can Improve our Mental Health

If you are not grateful, your mental health will become sad, angry, etc. You will have more stress, anxiety, or depression if you are not grateful for the things around you. If you are struggling with any of these issues, being grateful may help to solve them!

How to Practice Gratitude in Your Life

The more you practice gratitude, the better off you will be. Here are eight suggestions for incorporating gratitude into your daily life:

1. A daily gratitude journal or list – Keep a journal of grateful thoughts. As often as possible, write down those things in your life that you are thankful for. It can be something as simple as a full moon on a clear night or the walk the family shared today. Today I am grateful for finding a Christian prayer channel on my phone because I was just wanting to hear those around me talk about HIM. What are you grateful for today?

3. Practice mindfulness through meditation – In the hustle and bustle of daily life, our minds can become cluttered with thoughts about what we have to do, what we want to buy next, etc. Taking some time out for a meditation practice can help us clear away some of those thoughts and focus on being grateful for what is in our lives right now. Do you have a few moments between appointments? Take that time to focus on Him and things he may be blessing you with or preparing for you.

4. Keeping grateful reminders in your classroom, office, home, or car – Put a sign/sticky note on your desk, computer, or refrigerator with a favorite quote of gratitude. There are many great quotes out there from the world’s most influential people. Keep a gratitude jar near you and add slips of paper with things you are grateful for as they come up throughout your day.

Imagine having a gratitude jar in your classroom or office and someone seeing it and asks you what it is for. Could you imagine the atmosphere of change that could happen around you?

5. Share what you’re grateful for – Tell others around you what you are grateful for. As mentioned before, gratitude is contagious!

6. Gratitude visit with friends or family members once a month – Schedule a time each month to get together with family members or friends who are important in your life. The point of this gathering is not to talk about the things you want, need, or have issues with, but rather to focus on gratitude. You may even want to try keeping a gratitude jar for this event as well!

7. Gratitude walk with friends or family – Schedule times to take a gratitude walk with those friends and family who are important in your life. During this walk, talk about things you feel grateful for instead of the usual gossip, complaining, etc.

8. Gratitude journal before bed – Every night before going to bed write down five things in your gratitude journal of what you felt grateful for that day. The simple act of thinking about the good things in your life before you get into bed will help you fall asleep and leave happy thoughts behind.

The Benefits of Practicing Gratitude for your Wellbeing:

Studies show that being grateful is good for your health. It can decrease pain, tension, and sadness. People who are grateful have a decreased chance of getting sick with chronic diseases. A thankful heart can help you heal from wounds.

Practicing Gratitude on a Daily Basis:

When you wake up, think about three things you are grateful for. Studies show that this will make people start the day more happily. Before going to bed, try writing three things you are grateful for from the day. This way, when you go through hard times in your life, you will remember that there is good in this world too. This is a good thing and it will teach you to focus on the positive things in your life. There are so many ways for you to practice gratitude every day.

Building Gratitude in Your Relationships

It is important to be grateful for the people in your life. They are there when you need help or support. When we appreciate the people in our lives, they want to keep coming back and it makes us feel happier and like we belong.

Gratitude Can Increase Your Sense of Wellbeing

People who are grateful for what they have are happier than those who don’t have gratitude. Gratitude makes people feel optimistic about life and look at the good things that happen rather than the bad.

Gratitude can Make You Happier

At the end of each day, write down five things that made you happy. Keep this list with you and read it when you need to remember all the good things in your life.

By practicing gratitude on a daily basis, you can increase your happiness and decrease the likelihood of depression. Gratitude also boosts self-esteem and confidence levels which in turn improves relationships with others. It’s not just for Thanksgiving!

Tip: Try making or purchasing a 30 Days of Gratitude journal today and for the next 30 days try it out. I’d love to know how you did.

What has been the biggest change in your health since you have been practicing gratitude?