The Positive Effects of Gratitude
Gratitude is a subjective concept. We can argue a dozen different ways, with everyone having valid points. But practicing gratitude is a personal journey. Filled with varying methods of thinking and showing our gratitude. Creating gratitude goals and committing to the experience of appreciation helps us focus on the things we currently have in our lives instead of reaching for more items or something different.
We can feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. They can apply to the past (retrieving positive memories and being thankful for elements of childhood or past blessings), the present (not taking good fortune for granted as it comes), and the future (maintaining a hopeful and optimistic attitude). Regardless of the inherent or current level of someone's gratitude, it is a quality that individuals can successfully cultivate further.
Two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCollough of the University of Miami, have researched gratitude extensively. One study asked all participants to write a few sentences – focusing on particular topics – every week.
One group wrote about things they were grateful for during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or something that had irritated them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on positive or negative). After ten weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.
Of course, studies such as this do not prove cause and effect. But most of the research on gratitude supports a link between our gratitude and our well-being.
Other studies have looked at how being grateful can improve our relationships. For example, studies of couples found that individuals who take time to express gratitude for their partner felt more positive toward the other person and more comfortable expressing different feelings about their relationship. Managers who say thank their employees may find that those employees feel motivated to work harder. Researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania randomly divided university fund-raisers into two groups. One group made phone calls to solicit alumni donations the way they always had. The second group — assigned to work on a different day — received a pep talk from the director of annual giving, who told the fund-raisers she was grateful for their efforts. During the following week, the university employees who heard her message of gratitude made 50% more fund-raising calls than those who did not.
Gratitude helps us feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve our health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
What are those positive effects? I am glad that you asked. Here are five ways that gratitude can promote positivity in your everyday life.
Gratitude helps us be mindful and focus on being "at the moment" when we may normally move through without acknowledgment.
Gratitude keeps us aware of everything going well instead of the things that are not going well.
Gratitude helps manage stress by focusing on all you have accomplished instead of what needs to be done.
Gratitude assists with building confidence in your capabilities by focusing on personal strengths
Do you know what gratitude means to you? I think you should figure it out.