Gratitude is a divine emotion because when we feel thankful, it acts as a magnet for other positive emotions, so much so that it is impossible to ruminate on our worries. We simply can’t hold a sense of appreciation and a stressful thought at the same time. Check out five other benefits to growing your gratitude below.
- Gratitude propels us into the present moment by way of our emotions. We get in touch with the appreciation we feel now. Awareness of the present moment regulates our nervous systems and reduces the generation of cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Spending time connecting to your gratitude for people, especially when you get into specifics, (e.g., “I love how he makes me laugh, even after a lousy day”), enhances your ability to attune and interact with those people.
- Being thankful promotes good vibes. When we are grateful, our brains release both serotonin and dopamine, the two neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation.
- Making lists of who or what inspires gratitude also increases motivation. That inspiration is further enhanced by the neurotransmitters mentioned above, since they are also key to focusing concentration.
- If we are willing to explore gratitude in light of a difficult circumstance, it shows us the other side of the situation. Gratitude illuminates the silver linings which build our resilience and set our direction toward problem-solving and true thriving.
