Mental Health Is… Gratitude | Health & Wellness Services

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Gratitude is a surprisingly powerful force. But what does it mean to be grateful? Gratitude is often defined as an expression of deep appreciation for something or someone that is given freely without expecting anything in return.

Showing appreciation and gratitude for the things and people in our lives can help us adapt to change, deal with difficulties, increase our academic success, regulate our emotions and improve our mental and physical well-being. Here are some benefits and tips to help you practice gratitude and live a grateful life.

Benefits of practicing gratitude

Research studies have shown that gratitude can have a number of positive benefits to our lives. In fact, gratitude can:

  • Strengthen our relationships. Expressing gratitude to the people we care about can help us deepen and strengthen our relationships with friends, family, significant other, and classmates. Giving thanks and acknowledging the contributions of those around us can also provide us with opportunities to build new relationships. For example, you might show appreciation for a co-worker who covered your shift or a colleague who helped you finish a group project.
  • Improve our mental health. Feeling grateful can be an effective way to manage and reduce stress, improve mood, and promote optimism. It can also help us build resilience and deal better with difficult situations as they arise.
  • It benefits our physical health. Over time, gratitude can also have positive effects on our physical health, including improved sleep, self-image, cardiovascular function and more.

Ways to practice gratitude

Like most good habits, expressing gratitude can take some practice. Here are a few different ways you can incorporate gratitude into your daily routine. Try them all or choose the one that suits you perfectly.

Keep in mind that it is a good idea to start small and increase your practice. You don’t need to dedicate a significant amount of time to enjoy the benefits of expressing gratitude.

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