Gratitude Rewires Your Brain and Makes You Happier

Gratitude is defined as a feeling of appreciation for someone or something; it’s also referred to as thankfulness.

We’ve heard that being grateful can make you feel better. However, after learning the science behind gratitude, many are more inclined to put it into practice and keep it up. So let’s look at what takes place in your brain while you’re practicing gratitude and how shifting your thoughts to a state of thankfulness may help your body.

Studies show that those who practice this way of thinking experience increased oxytocin and dopamine levels and decreased cortisol and adrenaline levels. This new, improved balance creates a “happy cycle”: more oxytocin and dopamine lead to more activity in these regions, leading to even more happiness.

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Gratitude Improves Your Mindset

In 2010, I began an every day practice that I still keep today. I joined an email-based gratitude list. The list is comprised of friends who aspire to share an expression of gratitude daily with one another. People have joined and left the list over the years, and some have remained primarily observers. The point is that you are free to be a part of the list on your terms. Participation can be as simple as listing one or two things you are grateful for and sending it out to the list. It’s not unusual, however, for someone to get inspired; we’ve received everything from gratitude-infused poems, short stories, photographs, or even funny videos.

My gratitude practice began during a difficult period in my life, and the practical benefits were instantly invaluable. It helped me have a more positive outlook — focusing on what I already had, rather than focusing on what I didn’t have.

It helps me shift my attention to the positive, enhance my point of view, and value what is working well in my life which isn’t a bad result for an investment of five minutes or less a day.

It All Begins with a Thought

Our thoughts shape the way we think about the world. Our brains are continuously flitting from one thought to the next, making connections between ideas, experiences, and memories that evoke emotions. This process can be subtle or quick, but either way, it goes on in the background of our minds within milliseconds.

Despite what you might think, this process is not random. It turns out thoughts are connected to other thoughts through what is called “cognitive biases.” For example, if you have a bad experience with someone or something, there is a tendency for you to generalize and think that all people or things in a particular category are bad.

Many of these biases and their emotions lead us to depression, anxiety, anger, and ultimately unhappiness. As Mark Twain once said, “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” The way we perceive the world can lead us to stressors that don’t exist.

Our brains naturally seek out negative information and feelings. However, when we deliberately direct our thoughts towards the good things in life, it profoundly affects our perspectives and moods.

Once More, With Feeling: The Benefits of Practicing Gratitude

The good news is that practicing gratitude is a great way to shape your thoughts towards more positive thinking! Try setting aside time each day to practice gratitude and watch your outlook shift for the better!

Gratitude will make us happier: Gratitude can help you control your emotions. When we experience something good, such as a promotion at work, our brain’s reward centers activate and create feelings of happiness. But those feelings tend to fade away quickly as we get used to the new status quo. If we think about what we have instead of focusing on what we lack or don’t have, we can make our happiness more stable and increase it.
Gratitude helps with our potential to be more generous: We usually think of gratitude as something that benefits the individual by increasing happiness and well-being. But new research shows that feeling grateful also causes us to behave more caring towards others.
Gratitude will help us be more productive: We tend to think of gratitude as a “nice-to-have” but not an essential part of the work environment. However, studies show that practicing gratitude may help us be more productive. If you want to impact your organization’s bottom line positively, consider having employees practice expressing their appreciation for one another. It can increase happiness, reduce turnover rates, and improve the overall mood.
Gratitude will make us less self-centered: We often tend to focus on our own needs and ignore those of others. But, when we practice gratitude, we may be more likely to help others simply because we feel better about ourselves and want to share that positivity with others.
Gratitude will help us better deal with adversity: If you want to be happier, you must practice being grateful for what you have. Daily practice can help give you the energy to take action and improve your situation. Grateful people tend to experience fewer symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety because they feel their lives are just as meaningful – if not more so – even when things aren’t going their way.
Gratitude will make us healthier: A study of older adults found that those with a grateful disposition are more likely to exercise and less likely to smoke. Researchers believe that gratitude can positively impact people’s decisions and behaviors by reducing stress, increasing positive emotions, and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices.

Easy Ways to Practice Gratitude

Gratitude Journal: Writing down what you’re grateful for at the end of each day can help you digest your experiences and see things from a different perspective. Research has found that those who record what they feel grateful for have higher levels of positive emotions, more optimism, and fewer depressive symptoms.
Nurture Relationships: Spending time with people we love makes us happier by itself, but when we’re grateful for our loved ones, it can make us even more content. Wanting to thank someone for something they did for you is an excellent way of showing your gratitude.
Expressing Gratitude: It’s also important to remember to say thank you. When you express gratitude, the recipient will feel more appreciated.
Attentive Listening: Another way is listening to the things that people share with you about their lives without judging them or thinking of a reply. Simply listening to what they have to say and paying attention is a beautiful gift and an expression of gratitude.
Pay it Forward: When we feel grateful for the things that others do for us, it makes our relationships even more robust. A great way of showing your gratitude is by acknowledging someone else’s kindness or helping somehow.
Gratitude Group Email List: As I mentioned above, another way of practicing gratitude is to start a Gratitude Group email list so that people can share what they’re grateful for with one another.

Final Thoughts

Finding a way to be more grateful and counting your blessings each day can help you enjoy life more, improve your quality of life, and positively impact those around you. Consider starting a Gratitude Group email or text list and send it out each day to share what you’re grateful for. A list is an excellent way of practicing gratitude, and you’ll be encouraging others toward a more positive way of being in the process!

Gratitude Reading List

Thank you for reading this post! I’m grateful you spent some time with me today! If you’re looking for more posts like this one, be sure to check out the rest of my blog posts for Creative Artists and Entrepreneurs here.