“Grateful is our mindset.”
If you start every day being grateful and reminding yourself what you are grateful for, you will have a better day than you would’ve if you did not create it that way. I have become a big believer in this, and I have shared it with many and challenged them to do the same. After doing this, I realize the rest of the day is easy for me to see things around me that I am grateful for.
It turns out being grateful not only allows me to see reminders of what I should be thankful for throughout the day, but also I have recently learned there are so many other benefits.
It turns out being grateful and showing gratitude has so many health benefits. What a great week to learn and share this with all of you! Coming off of a fantastic week with my health matters challenge, I thought that this message came at the perfect time.
Harvard, USC Berkeley, the Mayo Clinic, and Psychology today are some of the resources I used to find the information I am sharing. Many more respected sources agree with these excellent side effects of being grateful that I will share. Here are a few of many:
Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Not only does saying “thank you” constitute good manners, but showing appreciation can help you win new friends.
Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people
According to Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, gratitude reduces many toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret.
Grateful people are more likely to behave in a kind manner, even when others act less kindly, according to a 2012 study by the University of Kentucky. Study participants who ranked higher on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback.
Grateful people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study. If you spend just a few minutes jotting down a few grateful thoughts before bed, you may sleep better and longer. (who’s looking for better sleep?)
Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown appreciation not only reduces stress, but it may also play a significant role in overcoming trauma. A 2006 study found that Vietnam War veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Gratitude also improves self-esteem. Another study found that appreciation increased athletes’ self-esteem, which helped with performance. Other studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. Instead of becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs, grateful people can appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
I kept finding more and more great reasons to be grateful and so many positive reasons why being thankful or showing gratitude can benefit our health. I could have shared at least ten more, but I think I have shared enough to make my point. It seems gratitude is a great way to create health and balance in mind, body and spirit.
While writing this message this week, I reflected that I had been blessed with good health the last 18 months, even though so many others have not been. I am grateful for it, but I am also reminded that it was my physical health that was good and my mental and spiritual health. I couldn’t help but think that maybe being grateful was a significant reason for that.
I believe it was, and I think you too can improve your health and well-being by just being grateful and showing gratitude every day! I challenge you to try it, be consistent with it, and let me know how it impacts your life!
Many advise us to take our vitamins or eat an apple every day. Others even urge to pray or eat well. I recommend you do those things and be grateful every day to live your best life!
Monday, September 27, 2021, is the start of the 15-day health and wellness challenge sponsored by Total Life Changes. If you will be joining us and participating in this historic event, please use this week to prepare by being grateful. I am sure that you will unlock a secret that can help you achieve your goals and make the world a better place at the same time!
Thank you for reading, and thank you for being great every day! I believe in you, and I am grateful for your time and your friendship. I look forward to serving you daily and hope to see you join me on the 27th!
Have a great week and a grateful mindset!
