Research Shows The Power In Gratitude
You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you. ~Sarah Ban Breathnach
It’s easy to take being grateful for granted. It’s easy to say, “Oh sure, gratitude,” and dismiss it as positive thinking ‘mumbo jumbo’. Do not make this mistake.
Be amazed! Research says…
Numerous scientific studies show that when people engage in a regular practice of heartfelt gratitude, they experience a significantly increased amount of physical, psychological, and interpersonal benefits. In some instances, people have said that their practice of gratitude led to transformative life changes.
Gratitude has been proven by over 40 research studies to have long-lasting and wide-reaching impact on all aspects of life. During their extensive studies, top gratitude researchers, Dr. Robert Emmons and Sonja Lyubomirsky, have consistently shown that gratitude is essential to happiness and wellbeing.
The expression of gratitude is a kind of meta-strategy for achieving happiness, states Sonja Lyubomirsky.
Dr. Emmons agrees, saying that gratitude is a key to happiness. Gratitude positively impacts our emotional, physical and social wellbeing. It enhances and boosts our personality, relationships and careers.
The benefits of gratitude include:
EMOTIONAL
- More good feelings
- More relaxed
- Increased resilience
- Less envious
- Happier memories
SOCIAL
- Increased kindness
- More friends
- Healthier marriage/partnership
- Deeper relationship
- More social interactions
PERSONALITY
- Less materialistic
- Less self-centered
- Heightened self-esteem
- More spiritual
HEALTH
- Improved sleep
- Less apt to become ill
- Live longer
- Increased energy
- Exercise more frequently
CAREER
- Improved network
- Better management skills
- Improved decision making
- Enhanced productivity and creativity
- Set and achieve goals
In a nutshell, studies have proven that being grateful makes us happier, healthier and enhances the richness of our relationships, career, emotional and physical wellbeing and life as a whole.
Gratitude enables us to live in the moment, appreciating what we have, rather than what we don’t.
Gratitude allows us to appreciate the bodies we have rather than berate ourselves about our physical shortcomings.
Gratitude enables us to bounce back from illness or adversity more quickly.
Gratitude lifts us up, boosting self-esteem and making us more relatable to others. It enhances all the positives, opening our heart and allowing our emotional, mental and physical selves to thrive.
There is no place for worry, envy, fear and bitterness when we are grateful.
