Gratitude literally changes your brain in a beautiful way! Psychologists Dr. Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis and Dr. Michael McCullough of the University of Miami published a study in 2015 that looked at the physical outcomes of practicing gratitude. One third of the subjects in the study were asked to keep a daily journal of things that happened during the week for which they were grateful. Another third was asked to write down daily irritations or events that had displeased them. The last third of the group was asked to write down daily situations and events with no emphasis on either positive or negative emotional attachment. At the end of the 10-week study, each group was asked to record how they felt physically and generally about life. The gratitude group reported feeling more optimistic and positive about their lives than the other groups. In addition, the gratitude group was more physically active and reported fewer visits to a doctor than those who wrote only about their negative experiences!
Gratitude activates the hypothalamus as well, with downstream effects on metabolism, stress, and various behaviors. The hypothalamus is located at the base of the brain and regulates hormones responsible for many critical functions, such as body temperature, emotional responses, and survival functions like appetite and sleep. One of the neurochemicals associated with the parts of the brain affected by gratitude is dopamine, a pleasure hormone.
We don’t always have control over the circumstances of our life, however, we have the ability to be grateful in spite of what’s going on. There’s always so much to be grateful for. Truly there is…
Be grateful for the little things.
Be grateful for the big things.
Be grateful for all the things in the middle.
Look around.
Look within.
Look up.
There’s so much to be grateful for when we take time to reflect. Write down what you are grateful for and/or express it to those you love, and most importantly to Heavenly Father.
I see a direct link between my level of positive emotions (happiness, joy, peace) when my thoughts are focused on things I’m grateful for. 🙏
When our focus is on all the things that aren’t going right in our lives, I want you to ask yourself “how does that make me feel?” What results do you get when you focus on all the challenges? More of the same, and you prolong the suffering.
Until you CHOOSE to change the lens (your thoughts) in which you look through.
I’ve been on both sides. I’m human. I’m learning. I’m trying to show up better each time.
It’s miserable to be in a negative mind space. I’m not saying you can’t have yourself a ‘lil pity party, I’m just saying don’t spend too much mind juice on “whoa is me.”
Hindsight is always 20/20. We can look back and see that all the difficult things we have been through is what has strengthened our character. It’s made us better. When we are in the thick of it it’s not easy to be grateful for these soul-stretching experiences. Or can we be? I think we can…
I’m trying harder to be grateful in ALL things. Not just when things are flowing the way I want them to. I’m working harder to be grateful for the challenges in my life because I believe they are an opportunity for personal growth.
I know that when our lens is more focused on gratitude, and when we ask questions like “what can I learn from this challenge” we end up not being in the storm as long as we are not putting up resistance with the whoa-is-me or this-isn’t-fair mentality (I’m guilty of both and so much more). I’m human. 😘
Give yourself some grace if you’ve been there, and then choose, because the choice is yours, to choose thoughts that are centered and rooted in gratitude.
Just watch what will blossom in your life when you plant seeds of gratitude. Everything is more beautiful.
We don’t always have control over the circumstances of our life, however, we have the ability to be grateful in spite of what’s going on. There’s always so much to be grateful for. Truly there is…
Be grateful for the little things.
Be grateful for the big things.
Be grateful for all the things in the middle.
Look around.
Look within.
Look up.
There’s so much to be grateful for when we take time to reflect. Write down what you are grateful for and/or express it to those you love, and most importantly to Heavenly Father.
I see a direct link between my level of positive emotions (happiness, joy, peace) when my thoughts are focused on things I’m grateful for.
When our focus is on all the things that aren’t going right in our lives, I want you to ask yourself “how does that make me feel?” What results do you get when you focus on all the challenges? More of the same, and you prolong the suffering.
Until you CHOOSE to change the lens (your thoughts) in which you look through.
I’ve been on both sides. I’m human. I’m learning. I’m trying to show up better each time.
It’s miserable to be in a negative mind space. I’m not saying you can’t have yourself a ‘lil pity party, I’m just saying don’t spend too much mind juice on the “whoa is me.”
Hindsight is always 20/20. We can look back and see that all the difficult things we have been through is what has strengthened our character. It’s made us better. When we are in the thick of it it’s not easy to be grateful for these soul-stretching experiences. Or can we be? I think we can…
I’m trying harder to be grateful in ALL things. Not just when things are flowing the way I want them to. I’m working harder to be grateful for the challenges in my life because I believe they are an opportunity for personal growth.
I know that when our lens is more focused on gratitude, and when we ask questions like “what can I learn from this challenge” we end up not being in the storm as long as we are not putting up resistance with the whoa-is-me or this-isn’t-fair mentality (I’m guilty of both and so much more). I’m human.
Give yourself some grace if you’ve been there, and then choose, because the choice is yours, to choose thoughts that are centered and rooted in gratitude.
Just watch what will blossom in your life when you plant seeds of gratitude. Everything is more beautiful.
