It’s the time of the year to count blessings and to be thankful. While it may seem like a trivial thing to do, gratitude actually does more than just make you feel good—it can actually help connect you to something larger than yourself and has been scientifically proven to improve health. Here’s how:
Helps improve relationships
Since gratitude is a key to maintaining good relationships, it can help you in forming new ones too. When you practice gratitude, chances are you’ll find others responding more positively to you.
Boosts the immune system and physical health
Gratitude has been shown to contribute to an overall sense of well-being by lowering stress. Practicing gratitude has also shown to potentially reduce the risks of heart failure.
Improves mental health
Studies have shown that practicing gratitude regularly can help easy symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as improve your mood. It fosters positive feelings and contributes to an overall sense of well-being.
Helps improve sleep
Taking time to journal or write down what you are grateful for before you sleep can actually help you sleep longer and better.
Boosts self-esteem
Some studies show that gratitude reduces social comparisons, which in turn helps you be less resentful or envious of others and instead focus on what you actually are blessed with.
Increases optimism
Being optimistic has plenty of benefits, including healthy ageing, and better brain health. Practicing gratitude has shown to help you increase your level of positivity about life both in the present and for the future.