It’s Science
“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.” ~ John Ortberg
In our season of inviting gratitude, we have explored how to approach thankfulness with intentionality and give ourselves grace in the process. We recognize this is a positive practice, but at first glance we may not realize all the potential benefits it holds. Let’s dig deeper into those today and discover what research studies have shown.
Managing Anxiety and Depression: Several research studies have shown that daily practices of gratitude lowers the impact of anxiety and depression. When we spend time intentionally focusing on what we’re thankful for, this increases the neural modulation of the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of our brain responsible for balancing “negative” emotions, such as shame or guilt.
Setting Ourselves Up for Success: A consistent routine of gratitude strengthens neural pathways because our brain gets used to the dopamine and serotonin released when we express and receive thanks. These neurotransmitters are responsible for enhancing our “feel good” emotions.
Improved Sleep: The Neural Basis of Human Social Values: Evidence from Functional MRI explains how gratitude activates the hypothalamus, which controls the quality of sleep we experience. Regulating the hypothalamus sets the rhythms in our body to promote deeper, more rested sleep on a regular basis.
I’m sure we could find many more health benefits of a consistent practice of gratitude, but for today, I’ll pause here and simply invite you to share our thankful thought for today:
Day # 8: Share a food you’re thankful for and why.
