5 Surprising Benefits of Gratitude: Live a Joyful, Abundant Life Now

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*Updated October 2023

There are some surprising benefits of gratitude that you may not know about! And, they can help you create the abundant, joyful life that you deserve.

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about the positive effects of this practice, but what does gratitude truly mean and how can it help you elevate your life?

Gratitude is a strong feeling of acceptance and love for something or someone. And, it’s an extremely powerful, healing emotion that’s fundamental to a well-lived life! Feelings of gratitude engage the heart and create high frequency vibrations that invite more good into your reality!

By practicing gratitude, you create goodwill and attract abundance.

Two Components of Gratitude

Professor Robert Emmons from the University of California, Davis, is a leading expert on the subject.

In his book, Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, he explains how gratitude can significantly increase well-being and satisfaction in your life.

His research has shown the immeasurable benefits of gratitude including, increased happiness, better stress management, happier relationships, improved physical health, and shorter recovery time from injury and illness.

He has identified two main components of gratitude:

• You acknowledge the benefits of practicing gratitude.
• You understand that this goodwill comes from other people or a higher power.

“Gratitude is one of the strongest and most transformative states of being. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance and allows you to focus on the good in your life, which in turn pulls more goodness into your reality.”

Jen Sincero

What Gratitude is Not

It’s also important to note what gratitude is not. Gratitude is not the relief you feel when you see someone who is worse off than you.

And, although you may be briefly comforted by the fact that your life is better, that’s not true gratitude.

5 Surprising Benefits of Gratitude: Live a Joyful and Abundant Life Now!

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The Challenges

As rewarding as life can be, you can’t escape the challenges it throws your way. And, difficult times can make it feel impossible to keep gratitude at the forefront.

So, it’s up to you to actively change your focus and make gratitude a priority!

My Gratitude Journey

When I was going through a difficult time in my life, it was hard to stay positive. My main objective at that time was to find a coping strategy that would pull me through this phase of my life in order for me to move forward in a positive way.

So, I invested in some personal development books and dug in. Soon, I was able to identify one common theme, gratitude!

And, this realization sparked a new way of thinking for me. As a result, gratitude became a focal point in my life.

My heartfelt message to you is this; regardless of what you’re experiencing in your life, there’s always something to be grateful for and it’s the perfect place to start.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”

Melody Beattie 

Ways to Practice Gratitude

1. Change Your Thought Pattern

Personally, I began to practice gratitude in earnest after my divorce. I was ready to shed the heaviness of the past and move forward in a new, wonderful direction (which I was able to achieve!).

I started by feeling grateful for the simplest things in life: a friendly smile, a good cup of coffee, the feeling of the sun on my face.

Even when I felt like everything else was falling apart around me, I persisted with my practice of gratitude.

Over time, I experienced a shift in consciousness. And, practicing gratitude became a natural part of my daily experience.

This new way of being completely transformed my life. I began to reap the benefits of gratitude and this helped me to create a beautiful, new reality.

2. Come to Acceptance

The Universe does not judge, punish, or discriminate. It objectively mirrors back to you exactly what send out in the form of your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and actions.

Before you can change anything, you have to acknowledge that it exists. And, this exercise will shine a light on what you want and don’t want.

By accepting your current situation exactly as it is, you are being totally honest about where you are in life.

As a result, you’ll be better equipped to make purposeful life changes. Now, you can identify exactly what needs to change.

But, don’t stop there; celebrate all of the good in your life and get excited! The Universe will always give you more of whatever you put your attention on!

3. Vibrational Frequency

When you practice gratitude, you will begin to vibrate at a higher frequency. Life will start to feel more friendly. And, you’ll notice that things will work out in your favor more often.

Over time, you’ll begin attracting the things you truly desire into your life.

Many people think of this as the Law of Attraction, and this law does play its role in your life.

But, in reality, it’s only one of several Universal Laws, like the Law of Cause and Effect and the Law of Vibration, that govern the entire world.

4. Write in a Journal

Writing about what you’re grateful for is a simple, effective way to practice gratitude. So, grab a journal, get started, and reap the benefits of gratitude!

Research suggests that writing about one event in depth is more effective than creating a daily list of why you’re grateful. But, do whatever works for you!

And, write as often as possible. Be specific about who inspired your gratitude and why it made such a lasting impression on you.

Replay that moment and the feeling of love and joy you experienced. Dwelling in gratitude engages the heart and changes the brain.

This heart-brain connection sends a strong signal out to the Universe.

5. Commit a Random Act of Kindness

When you are kind to another person, your mood spontaneously improves. This simple act sparks a domino effect of altruism.

Random acts of kindness are true expressions of joy. And, studies show that not only the giver and receiver reap the benefits, but the observers do, too!

When you are loving and joyful, you function at a higher level of consciousness. In turn, you naturally want to share your happiness with others.

For example, if you buy a coffee for someone, they are pleasantly surprised. You feel appreciation and joy. Even the cashier feels a rush of gratitude.

In turn, they begin treating others with more deliberate kindness. And, this one simple act creates a positive ripple out into the world.

So, send a letter to someone you appreciate, pay off a stranger’s layaway balance at Walmart, or give someone the gift of your undivided attention. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture to be effective.

6. No Complaints

By not complaining, you accept the moment as it is; and acceptance is the greatest expression of gratitude.

Complaining undermines your prosperity and wellness and diminishes the gift of life. There is a very simple mantra that you can use to stop complaining in its tracks, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaints whatsoever.”

So, instead of tallying a list of grievances, stay focused, present, and grateful.

With some practice and patience, you’ll soon notice a positive shift in your life. Here are some other ways to practice gratitude:

• Use positive affirmations.
• Make a vow to yourself to practice gratitude everyday.
• Be mindful of the words you use.
• Write a letter of gratitude to someone.

The 5 Surprising Benefits of Gratitude

Along with the more common benefits of gratitude, like increased happiness, there are some lesser known benefits you may not have considered:

1. Gratitude is good for your mental health.

If you’re sick of feeling anxious, unhappy, or dissatisfied with life, gratitude just might be the answer!

Gratitude is an effective way to boost happiness and reduce depression, according to Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology at UC Davis and author of the book, The Psychology of Gratitude.

And, gratitude is addictive in the best sense of the word! Being grateful and committing acts of kindness will flood your brain with a chemical called dopamine.

When you are truly grateful for someone or something, you’ll experience a natural high.

And, because these emotions are so pleasurable, you’ll want to feel them over and over again. As a result, you are more inclined to give thanks and do good deeds.

2. Gratitude helps you live longer.

Positive emotions can increase your lifespan. Yes, you read that right!

Studies have proven that gratitude is good for your overall health and wellness.

It reduces aches and pains, strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and reduces symptoms of illness. Feelings of gratitude also significantly increase the antibodies that fight viruses.

Practicing gratitude also helps you get a good night’s sleep which is crucial to your wellness and longevity.

People with heart failure and chronic pain who are more grateful report sleeping better, despite their condition, than less grateful patients.

In one particular sleep study, people who practiced gratitude reported falling asleep more quickly, sleeping for longer periods of time, having better quality of sleep, and staying alert during the day.

They also reported that more grateful people sleep better because they nurture positive, rather than negative, thoughts at bedtime.

3. Gratitude makes people like you better.

When you practice gratitude, you’re happier, kinder, and more generous. As a result, people are naturally drawn to you. It helps you to strengthen friendships and grow your circle of friends.

Also, thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship with you.

One study reported that, “recipients of expressions of gratitude were more likely to extend the effort to continue the relationship with the novel peer by providing that peer with a means to contact them.”

4. Gratitude makes you a better leader.

Researchers at the Wharton School of Business found that when managers expressed gratitude for their employees, they were 50% more productive.

An additional study published in Scientific Research, learned that employees who are part of a workplace culture that promotes gratitude experience greater job satisfaction and overall well-being. And, doesn’t everyone just love to be appreciated?

5. Gratitude makes you more resilient.

Gratitude can make you a more resilient person! Having emotional resilience is more than just getting through tough times. It’s the commitment to find purpose in whatever hardship you’re facing combined with a strong belief that something good will come out of it.

In other words, practicing gratitude gives you the ability to be grateful regardless of your current situation.

Research by Dr. Robert Brooks supports the idea that people who practice gratitude are better able to bounce back from setbacks than other people.

And, gratitude also can help you heal from trauma more quickly. Gratitude has an amazing power to lift your spirits and help you remain focused on the goodness in your life.

Benefits of Gratitude

Gratitude is the spark that can help you initiate change and propel your life forward in some wonderful and surprising ways! How do you practice gratitude in your life?

What are some of the benefits you’ve experienced? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below and get the conversation started.

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