It’s good to be grateful.
Focusing on all the gifts in your life will make you feel better, and not only mentally.
Being grateful improves your body both mentally and physically here’s how.
Grateful people are physically healthier than those who don’t practice gratitude.
“It can lower blood pressure, improve immune function and facilitate more efficient sleep.”
It’s amazing how such a small change can impact everything about your health, especially your heart.
Studies have shown that grateful people have less inflammation in their bodies and healthier heart rhythms.
Both of these factors contribute to a healthier ticker.
As if that wasn’t enough, people who keep a gratitude journal even eat less fat!
“Most likely through the immune system or endocrine system.”
This only gets us more wired and frustrated.
A2009 studyin theJournal of Psychosomatic Researchfound that study participants who practiced gratitude before bed reported deeper and longer sleep.
They also felt better the next day.
Not sure where to start?
Just look around your room.
Silently say thank you for your comfortable bed, safe home, and indoor plumbing.
It doesn’t matter what you focus on, as long as you truly appreciate it.
Think of someone who has positively affected your life and make a plan to thank them.
This could be a card or a simple phone call.
Know that you taking a brief moment to say thank you will make you both feel amazing.
You feel happier
Gratitude has been proven toincrease feelingsof happiness and decrease depressed feelings.
It’s hard to feel depressed when you’re used to focusing on positivity.
People who regularly feel grateful report feeling morehopeful about the future.
This hopeful outlook is associated with better physical health.
It seems the trick to getting all these good feelings is practicing gratitude regularly.
Start making this a daily practice, and you’ll quickly see the benefits.
Grateful people are alsomore empatheticthan those who don’t focus on what they’re thankful for.
Studies have also shown that grateful people are less likely to think about revenge or retaliation.
It seems that gratitude protects you from sweating the small stuff.
Letting go of old hurts helps you move forward without dragging all that baggage with you.
Participants who regularly gave thanks for the blessings in their lives had lower levels of post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Forcing yourself to feel grateful about anything when you’re in the midst of a crisis will feel unnatural.
When our son was in the ICU last year, I was completely overwhelmed with fear and sadness.
There is truly always something to be grateful for, and focusing on it will only help you.
How could this one small practice literally improve everything in your life?
What’s the catch?
Well it turns out gratitude is the exception to that “too good to be true” rule.
However, we know that gratitude is not just the result of a great life.
It can actually cause these positive changes.
So put down your phone and put your worries on hold for a bit.
It’s time to be thankful.
