Research shows that gratitude can improve general wellbeing, strengthen our
resilience, improve our relationships and decrease anxiety and depression.
Gratitude produces positive emotions and feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.
When we express or receive gratitude, dopamine and serotonin are released into
our brain and enhance our mood from the inside out. Gratitude also works to
help release toxic emotions from our minds and bodies. A recent study has
shown that focusing on gratitude rather than negative experiences of emotion
allowed participants to release feelings of anxiety and depression sooner than
participants who were instructed to journal on their negative experiences. When
we are grateful, we increase the amount of positive neurochemicals in our
prefrontal cortex; the area of the brain that manages negative emotions.
Practicing gratitude improves sleep and reduces stress, gratitude is positively
correlated with our health and energy levels. Science has shown that expressions
of gratitude activate the hypothalamus. Sleep regulation is affected by an
activated hypothalamus. In addition, the release of dopamine through gratitude
practice has even been linked to a reduction of the subjective feeling of pain.
Practicing gratitude assists in stress management by potentially reducing our
production of cortisol, the stress hormone. A study has shown that grateful
participants had a reduction in the level of cortisol compared to those who did
not feel gratitude. With decreased cortisol levels, we can handle stressful
situations and often decrease our feelings of anxiety and depression.
Maybe most importantly, science correlated gratitude practices with long lasting
positive effects on our brain and emotions. By consistently maintaining
gratitude practice, the pathways in the brain strengthen and when we experience
gratitude expressions our brain triggers our feelings that we perceive as good.
This consistent activation of our reward system will eventually lead to a change in
the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
Now that you know the science, if you are looking for a great way to kick off your
gratitude practice, join us in our social media gratitude challenge. Post a
gratitude, like our page, and tag us!
Reference: Chowdhury, M. R. (2021, September 10). The neuroscience of gratitude
and how it affects anxiety & grief. PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved December 7,
2021, from https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/.