So what happens to your brain during moments of gratitude? We know that gratitude gives us all the good feels but what is really happening? And is it having any long term benefits?
How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain shares a powerful study of students seeking out mental health services. They found that “In fact, it seems, practicing gratitude on top of receiving psychological counseling carries greater benefits than counseling alone, even when that gratitude practice is brief. And that’s not all. When we dug deeper into our results, we found indications of how gratitude might actually work on our minds and bodies.” Their research while not definitive, resulted in these four insights into the psychological benefits of gratitude:
- Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions.
- Gratitude helps even if you don’t share it.
- Gratitude’s benefits take time.
- Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain.
So if a gratitude practice isn’t a part of your regular daily routine, today is a perfect day to start!