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Why Gratitude Matters – Alyssa Craig

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I love the Thanksgiving season! It makes me reflect back on all the many things I have been blessed with throughout the year! I love writing about gratitude as you can see from my past post here, but today I am excited to have Alyssa guest posting for me today on the subject of Gratitude!

With Thanksgiving coming up this month, gratitude is on the minds of many Americans. While you will see the internet and social media plastered with your friends and family publicly giving thanks, it is not likely many of them will take the time to think about the ‘why’. Why is it important to be grateful, not just now but during all times of the year? How does this action affect our lives and what can we do to express gratitude on a daily basis? Gaining a deeper understanding on why gratitude matters will give you the tools and motivation to enrich your life and that of those around you.

From a purely psychological standpoint, gratitude is essential for a truly happy life. Giving thanks can have a positive effect on your emotional and mental health in many ways such as, but not limited to:

  • Increased levels of energy
  • More feelings of relaxation
  • More joy and pleasure
  • Less envy
  • Feeling more awake and alert
  • More positive emotions
  • More positive memories
  • Increased optimism
  • Higher sense of self worth

Studies have shown those who experience these positive results, in turn tend to be more forgiving, more generous, more compassionate and experience less loneliness. Expressing gratitude is also a way for us to affirm there is good in the world and to actively recognize the source for that good. Consequently, we find ourselves appreciating the positive traits in others rather than just in ourselves.

There are many circumstances that can keep us from utilizing gratitude to its full extent. Take for example, trying to be grateful even when your financial circumstances do not allow you to have the possessions or the status you desire. Some might think it would be easier to be grateful if they had that really nice luxury car or the larger house. However, gratitude should not be based on any form of “When I have something, then I will be grateful.”  
All of the effects of gratitude mentioned above lead to a great appreciation of the present, which in turn has its own benefits. Stress is often associated with an event that is yet to come, so being firmly based in the present, with a grateful attitude, helps you to be more resistant to experiencing stress. Grateful people, therefore, are able to recover more quickly in the face of distress or trauma. They often have a better perspective that also helps to carry them through a current trial and helps them come out on the other end in a more emotionally healthy place. In the scenario above, you may come to realize you do not have to have the best of everything in order to be able to feel gratitude in your current circumstance.
 
So now that we understand its importance, what can you do to cultivate a better “attitude of gratitude”? Try incorporating some of these suggestions into your daily routine to start seeing positive effects faster than you may think.
 
Gratitude Journal: One very effective way to make gratitude a more common occurrence in your life is to keep a regular gratitude journal. Once you get through the quick answers, you will need to dig deeper to find things you are grateful for. You will start to notice things in your daily life that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
 
Count Your Blessings: This is similar to a gratitude journal, but not limited to pen and paper. Remind yourself to be grateful by making a mental list of your blessings when in the midst of a crummy situation.
 
Pay it Forward: Whether you volunteer your time, perform random acts of kindness, or just look for ways to make someone else’s day better, find ways to pay it forward. By taking the attention off yourself, you will be able to create something positive and add to the list of good things in your life to be grateful for.
 

Counter Negative Thoughts: It is natural to have negative thoughts, particularly in the face of poor or stressful situations. But we can use this as an opportunity to develop more gratitude. As soon as you have a negative thought, think of three things you are grateful for. You will soon find the good outweighs the bad and there is always something to be grateful for.


We all know that gratitude is important but by developing a deeper understanding for its necessity, we can improve our ability to increase it in our own lives and find greater happiness, even in the face of adversity.