Thanks To Be Healthy

The most obvious reason to boost your gratitude is that it's closely tied to increased feelings of happiness. The studies backing that up are not surprising. What's remarkable is that scientists who have located thoughts of gratitude in the brain found that not only do they produce feelings of pleasure, they stimulate areas regulating stress.

This makes intuitive sense. Be more aware of what you feel is good in your life, and you will feel good. Also, if you're sufficiently grateful, you're less likely to compare yourself to others, which is often the enemy of happiness.

Resilience, including the ability to cope with stress and trauma, is another trait correlated with gratitude. Studies have shown that counting blessings was a factor in managing post-traumatic stress for Vietnam War veterans and an effective coping strategy for many after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Other research shows that the more grateful you are, the more you are likely to exhibit patience and self-control. It can even be good for marriages and relationships: Couples good at exhibiting thankfulness tend to be "more committed and more likely to remain in their relationships over time." Our best selves, it seems, are our most grateful selves.

Studies have shown that gratitude can indirectly influence physical health, as well. Those who have "dispositional gratitude" -- defined by one study as "part of a wider life orientation towards noticing and appreciating the positive in the world" -- are more likely to report good physical health, a propensity for healthy activities and willingness to seek help for health concerns.

In another study, New York teenagers who rated as the most grateful in their class -- defined by "having a disposition and moods that enabled them to respond positively to the good people and things in their lives" -- were less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. The benefits of having more gratitude also correlated with benefits to the heart among patients who had experienced heart failure.
Being grateful can even get you a better night's sleep.

According to one study involving college students who instituted various methods for increasing gratitude, such as a gratitude journal, they worried less at bedtime and slept longer and better. In another study, adults in the UK (40% of whom had sleep disorders), reported that thinking about what they are grateful for at night led to falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.

Convinced? Try it!