Why Gratitude is the Key to Happiness

 by Elinor Jeynes

 

(image: Priscilla DuPreez)

The definition of gratitude is as follows:

gratitude: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. As we face a third lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic continues it is more important than ever that we appreciate what we have and show kindness towards others.

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, enjoy good experiences, improve their health, deal with challenges and build stronger and longer lasting relationships.

However, society and advertising continuously trick us into thinking that if we gain materialistic items for example a new car or a bigger house it will make us happy. However if we keep waiting until we receive these things we will waste time waiting instead of making the most of the present and when we actually get that promotion or buy that item of clothing it won’t necessarily make us happy. There will always be something else that we feel we need to make us content and we will never be satisfied with what we have now. Greater happiness comes from being grateful for what we currently have and being thankful for the opportunities we have been given. The majority of people would agree that we can control our actions and what we can do with our body and that we can change the way that we think about things in our lives. However few people realise that we can also change the way that we feel, a happy mind equals a happy brain. This is the same the other way round, a happy brain equals a happy mind. The most powerful and efficient way to develop a happy brain is to fill your mind with thoughts of gratitude, the key to happiness is gratitude. When you start to be grateful for what you already have, you create the positive brain chemistry that allows you to move forward with a positive mindset and good expectations. The more someone is thankful or feels gratitude, the less there is time or room for negative thoughts.

This is not just a theory, there is scientific research and evidence that also suggests that there is a link between gratitude and happiness. Recently, psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami produced a research study that suggested acts of gratitude increase people’s happiness. In one of their studies they asked three groups of people to write a few sentences each week focused on different topics. The first group wrote about things they were grateful for that had happened during that week. The next group wrote about daily problems that had occurred or things that had caused them dissatisfaction and the final group wrote about events that had affected them with no emphasis on them having been a positive or negative experience. After 10 weeks, those in group one who wrote about gratitude every week felt that they were more optimistic and felt better about their lives in general. Surprisingly, they also decided to exercise more and had fewer visits to doctors or medical professionals than those who focused on sources of displeasure. This study doesn’t prove cause and effect however the majority of the studies in this field do suggest the same results that a practise of gratitude does not only improve your mental health and makes you happier, it also benefits you physically too.

Here are some simple ways that can help you feel more grateful that you can do every day, keeping a gratitude journal helps you reflect on the good parts of your day and helps you to remind yourself of all the good things you already have in your life. Meditation can help you reflect on your current circumstances and help you realise just how lucky and privileged you are. Showing gratitude towards others and thanking them for all they do for you can help you to feel happier and more content and I’m sure that the person receiving your gratitude will be happier as well. By completing these short simple tasks as often as you can you will start to find more things to be grateful for and your mindset will change. The more gratitude you give out to others the more you will receive and during times like this everyone deserves to be shown some gratitude and appreciation.