Giving Thanks Can Make You Healthier & Happier

By Denise Turner, ASID, CID, CMG

It's that time of year again where many of us being to think about everything we have to be thankful for. While Thanksgiving is a great time to count our blessings, being thankful throughout the year can have huge benefits on our quality of life. 

In fact, gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools we have access to every day. Cultivating gratitude doesn't take much time, it's FREE and the benefits are huge. 

5 Benefits of Gratitude:

1. Greatful People Sleep Better
According to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful thoughts before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.

2. Gratitude Improves Physical Health

According to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences, grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people.

3. Gratitude Improves Emotional Health

Gratitude reduces a various negative emotions, from resentment to envy and to frustration and regret. Research has shown that gratitude increases happiness and reduces depression.

4. Gratitude Creates New Relationships 

Saying “thank you” not only shows that you have good manners, but showing appreciation can help you win new friends, according to a 2014 study published in Emotion. The study discovered that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. 

So whether you acknowledging other people’s contributions, thank a stranger for holding the door, can lead to new opportunities.

5. Gratitude Enhances Empathy 

According to a 2012 study by the University of Kentucky, grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kindly. The participants who ranked higher on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback. 

Happy Thanksgiving, 

Denise