What About Gratitude?

You may never have proof of your importance, but you are more important than you think. There are always those who couldn’t do without you. The rub is that you don’t always know who.

That little nugget is by Robert Fulghum in his book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. By the time we can tie our shoes, we know the importance of saying “thank you.” It’s one of the first social courtesies we’re taught. Somewhere between the kindergarten classroom and the rat race of life, the practice of gratitude often gets lost. If good manners aren’t enough, recent studies have proven that sincere expressions of gratitude can have a significant impact on healthy brain activity as well as physical and psychosocial health.

As cheesy as it sounds, the attitude of gratitude is good for our health and happiness.  But it also has a huge impact on our relationships with colleagues and our performance at work.  Here are 12 proven benefits of the intentional practice of gratitude.

1. Personal relationships. By starting each day with a mindset focused on the good and being grateful, you’ll optimize your inherent desire for strong relationships.
2. Work relationships. Employees have better relationships with their employers when they feel respected and valued. Expressing appreciation for coworkers builds a sense of teamwork and trust that encourages everyone to contribute.
3. Restful sleep. Gratitude inspires more positive thoughts and fewer negative ones. Gratitude practiced for just15 minutes a day, right before going to bed, allows you to drift into sleep faster and sleep longer and more soundly.
4. Reduced stress. Gratitude engages the parasympathetic, rest-and-digest, calming part of the nervous system producing a host of positive benefits for the body, including decreasing cortisol levels and increasing oxytocin, the powerful bonding hormone involved in relationships.
5. Psychological health. A grateful mindset reduces the intensity of a multitude of toxic emotions, from jealousy and resentment to frustration and regret. Studies show that gratitude may induce structural changes in the brains of people suffering from depression.
6. Increased resilience. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress but also has a significant impact on overcoming trauma.  Even Vietnam War veterans experienced lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when they with incorporated intentional gratitude into their daily routine.
7. Reduced aggression. Gratitude motivates people to express prosocial behaviors and greater sensitivity for others’ feelings. Studies show that higher levels of gratitude correlated with reduced aggression, even when treated unkindly.
8. Improved self-esteem. There is a wealth of research that shows the correlation between gratitude and self-esteem. Rather than becoming resentful of others – gratitude enables people to appreciate our own accomplishments as well as the accomplishments of others which ultimately leads to greater interpersonal relationships, greater empathy and overall happiness with life.
9. Increased confidence. People who have an attitude of gratitude focus on looking for the positive people and things in their lives. This increases confidence as it reinforces how fortunate they are.
10. Increased vitality. With all of these benefits of gratitude, it should come as no surprise that gratitude gives us greater energy and vitality. There are many hypotheses supporting why—from stronger immune systems thanks to sleep, to healthier hearts due to less stress, and even to the more spiritual theories—such as being thankful makes us more optimistic and that in itself boosts our vitality. The bottom line is that gratitude contributes to a longer, healthier life.
11. Mental strength. Gratitude develops mental strength and enables people to move on from the emotional pains of the past. When we focus on the good things in life, it’s easier to forgive others, stop dwelling on our past and be fully present. Mentally strong and grateful people  stand up against their inner critic with strength and confidence instead of beating themselves up for their imperfections and inadequacies.
12. Inner happiness. Grateful people know that they are in charge of their own happiness.  They don’t spend time comparing themselves to others or feeding feelings of envy or jealousy.  Grateful people are genuinely happy for their own gifts and the gifts of others.

Bookend your day – the first thing in the morning and the last thing you do before bed – with one thing that you’re grateful for.    Say it out loud or better yet, write it down in a gratitude journal. A few minutes of intentional gratitude will elicit a host of positive physical, emotional, and psychological benefits!