Expressing thanks may be one of the simplest ways to feel better.
Thanksgiving holiday is near and as the name implies, it is a perfect time to express thanks and gratitude for the life that you have. I think that this is the perfect time to review the emotional and health benefits of gratitude — and to consider some advice about how to cultivate this state of mind.
The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what you have received, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, you can acknowledge the good in your life.
In psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness and emotional balance. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
You can feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. You can write about what you are grateful for in a journal, meditate on a though to gratitude, or take a moment to have each person express gratitude at the dinner table. It doesn’t really matter how you choose to practice giving thanks and being grateful for what you have in your life. However you choose to do it, including a consistent gratitude practice is the key to feeling the positive health effects. I’ve posted three studies below that show how gratitude improves patient outcomes in a variety of conditions.
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