Thankful & Grateful
Holidays are around the corner and with that being said, Sunshine State Counseling Center is focusing on gratitude.
As young children we are sometimes taught to be thankful and grateful for the things and people that surround us. Many times, as adults we may forget or find little importance in saying thank you, due to everyday stress.
This week Sunshine State Counseling will focus on informing you of 4 scientifically proven benefits of gratitude.
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues, but the parent of all of the others” – Cicero (106–43BC)
Long-Term Happiness: Researchers have found that being grateful actually increases your happiness and well-being for the long term. Participants in the study experienced an increase of 2% in happiness the first week, 5% after the first month, and 9% after six months simply through practicing gratitude journaling once a week.
Better Sleep: A study in 2009 found that gratitude helps to increase the depth and length of sleep. According to this study, “Gratitude predicted greater subjective sleep quality and sleep duration, and less sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.”
Protection against stress: Stress is a major cause of psychosomatic illness (or sickness that originates from psychological distress), meaning that gratitude helps to calm the whole body. Researchers have also found that gratitude helps us to successfully deal with stress and adversity while we are experiencing it. Taking situations are they are and not dwelling may also help in reducing stress.
Increase of empathy: Being grateful has been shown to increase empathy and our ability to care about others. Grateful people have been shown to be less reactive, more caring and understanding of other even when faced with an aggressor.