Why Practice Gratitude
Why Practice Gratitude?
Practicing gratitude helps decrease negative thinking this also includes the notion that positive emotions beget more positive emotions. This allows our thoughts and perspective to expand and broaden, our minds are then relaxed enough to fully utilize our brains, not just the amygdala sending the distress signals in fight or flight.
Our brains are hard wired to see danger and that is how humans have survived throughout the ages.
Today, chances are you do not have a saber tooth tiger sitting on your doorstep, nonetheless, we are still wired to see the negative and danger. How do we shift this? How do we break the cycle?
Neuroscientist Dr. Rick Hanson says “our minds are Velcro for negative information but Teflon for positive”
1st off: What is the big deal about gratitude:
Well, for my science junkies out there here it is
- Practicing gratitude is a Positive Psychological intervention that has been proven to help improve overall emotional wellbeing (mental health)
- Gratitude is the deepest touchpoint of human existence
- Grateful people experience higher levels of positive emotions.
- Gratitude helps break the cycle of negativity, you brain can’t hold several thoughts to dwell on.
‘Gratitude Works!’ and it the title of one of my favorite books and it is a must read for putting gratitude into action. By Dr Robert Emmons
If you are not sold yet here are the proven benefits:
- Better coping with stress
- success in achieving personal goals
- bolster feelings of self-worth
- improves cardiac health
- greater sense of purpose and resilience
