Benefits of Gratitude: A Review

 

There are so many benefits to gratitude. 

In August, I highlighted some of the many benefits of having a personal gratitude practice. To review, here's a list of all 15 benefits with links to the individual posts (or visit Benefits of Gratitude to view all 15 on one page). 

• Benefit #1 - Increases joy and happiness.
• Benefit #2 - Helps shift the focus from life's problems to its gifts.
• Benefit #3 - Helps reduce stress and anxiety.
• Benefit #4 - Helps develop a more positive mental outlook.
• Benefit #5 - Increases awareness of life's many blessings
• Benefit #6 - Helps improve the quality of life.
• Benefit #7 - Helps prioritize what's important in life.
• Benefit #8 - Helps lower blood pressure.
• Benefit #9 - Improves physical and mental health.
• Benefit #10 - Strengthens connections with others and improves relationships.
• Benefit #11 - Strengthens the immune system.
• Benefit #12 - Improves sleep quality.
• Benefit #13 - Strengthens coping skills.
• Benefit #14 - Can help develop greater enthusiasm and optimism.
• Benefit #15 - Makes it easier to forgive and let go of past hurts.

Benefits of Gratitude

There Are So Many Benefits To Gratitude

Gratitude is an easy way to improve your life. It doesn't take much time at all and can become part of any activity, at any time of day. There are so many benefits to making gratitude an integral part of your life. Studies have shown that people who regularly give thanks experience more happiness, better sleep, and feel a greater sense of well being. Gratitude is a great way to reduce stress and increase positive thinking.

I have been amazed at how many benefits there are to incorporating gratitude into your life. From personal experience, I can definitely say that it has helped reduce my fear of flying and has helped me eliminate stress whenever I remember to utilize it. Gratitude kept me company one evening when I was having difficulty breathing and couldn't sleep...a very uncomfortable night turned into a magical memory filled with joy.

A daily gratitude practice might include: making a daily list of things you are grateful for, keeping a gratitude journal, noticing and appreciating the many big and small blessings throughout the day, and/or letting others know how much you appreciate them.

Whether you've already incorporated a gratitude practice into your life or you are thinking of starting one, check here, over the next couple of weeks, for posts designed to help increase awareness of the many benefits of making gratitude a habit.

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Or should I say Happy Gratitude Day? Of course, we can look at it as everyday is a day of gratitude and a chance to be grateful for the gifts that fill our lives.

How wonderful to have a day set aside for celebrating thankfulness and to share our gratitude with others. Imagine what it would be like to have that same focus for 365 days a year. Many do.

Just as people choose to make resolutions on New Year's Day, you can start a new tradition on Thanksgiving Day. Make a commitment to gratitude with a plan for keeping gratitude present in your life throughout the year. What can you do to foster gratitude in your daily life?

If you need some reasons for developing a gratitude practice, check out the Benefits of Gratitude.