The Healing Benefits of Gratitude
Have you ever heard someone speak about the healing benefits of gratitude? Perhaps you have read an article about its value? Incredible goodness can come when we pause to notice the blessings in our life and name them, so let’s explore this topic together.
Let’s talk about seven scientifically proven benefits of gratitude cited by Forbes Magazine.
- Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.
- Gratitude improves physical health.
- Gratitude improves psychological health.
- Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression.
- Grateful people sleep better.
- Gratitude improves self-esteem.
- Gratitude increases mental strength.
For the full article, see https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/?sh=7861510a183c
As we enter November, we often think about Thanksgiving in the United States. Also, seventeen countries that celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving are Liberia, Canada, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, and the Philippines. However, many honor Thanksgiving in different ways.
If your country honors “Thanksgiving,” I would love to hear how you celebrate thankfulness and gratitude. If you are willing to share various ideas, I could include them in a future blog to broaden everyone’s awareness of beautiful ways to incorporate these practices.
Kristin Armstrong notes: “When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” Gratitude can, indeed, help us overcome negative thoughts and feelings that often dampen our spirits. Perhaps today would be a good time to enter into a season of Thanksgiving by starting a gratitude journal.
Here are some ideas to get started.
- Write down up to five things for which you feel grateful. Find a regular time each day to reflect and journal.
- Be as specific as possible because this helps you go deeper in your appreciation.
- Focus on people for whom you are grateful.
- Try subtraction.For example, consider what your life would be like without certain people or things.
- Similarly, when you concentrate on the good things in your life, it guards against taking them for granted.
- Capture unexpected or surprising events because these tend to elicit stronger levels of gratitude and help you not repeat the same thoughts.
If you would like to learn more, see this article: https://www.mindful.org/a-simple-weekly-mindfulness-practice-keep-a-gratitude-journal/
At Survivors to Thrivers, we seek to build a community of support and encouragement. Please share your ideas around how to build, develop, and cultivate a sense of gratitude.
In conclusion, gratitude is something that we can grow through practice. Please join us with our November 15th’ blog where we will actually have a practice of gratitude.
Here’s to Thriving!
At Survivors to Thrivers, we are here to encourage your spirit to release the pain and anger that you have been holding so that you can experience the hope and future you deserve. Please let us know other ways that we can support you because you are the reason we exist. We want you to feel a part of our Tribe and that is why we respond to every comment shared and every thought offered.
We offer weekly encouragement through our Instagram (survivorstothrivers) and Facebook (survivorstothriversofficial) posts.
Talk To Tambry
I am glad you have taken the time to engage with this blog. Sometimes it is helpful to process new insights that emerge. If you would appreciate brief time with a someone who understands, our Talk to Tambry offering is for you. For 30 minutes, you can receive support from Tambry who is a certified life coach, spiritual director and a survivor who has been on the journey as well. This is offered at a reduced rate of $50.
