Life kind of sucks right now. Inflation is hitting us hard, making it difficult to pay for basic things. Thousands of people are dying in Ukraine in a senseless war. America is divided more than ever. It is easy to get caught up in all the negativity. But not everything is so awful. Everyone can find that little sliver of positivity if they look hard enough. And make no mistake, it is important to look for it. We all have something to be thankful for, even if it doesn’t seem so obvious. If we underestimate the importance of gratitude we are making a huge mistake. How about we take a closer look at gratitude and learn why it is so valuable for all of us.

What Is Gratitude?

Although the dictionary might say that gratitude is simply “feeling grateful”, it holds a deeper and more significant meaning. Gratitude is an emotion that is felt by someone after they have been given a type of gift. It is felt by the individual and towards someone or something that provided the benefit. It is an appreciation, of your situation, of others, and even life itself. You may feel gratitude for only a short moment but it can have a lasting effect. In short, gratitude is a powerful positive force.

Why Is Gratitude Important?

Showing your appreciation is not just a polite thing to do. Feeling and expressing gratitude has numerous personal benefits. Let’s take a closer look:

Makes You Happier

The great thing about feeling and expressing gratitude is that it makes you feel better. People that are grateful exhibit more life satisfaction and overall happiness. It also has a negative correlation with depression, possibly indicating that grateful people are less likely to feel depressed. An added benefit of being grateful to someone else is that you make them feel better too.

Strengthens Relationships

Expressing gratitude to someone else can only help your relationship, whether it is a friendship or a romance. A friend or lover wants to feel appreciated. They want to know that you care about them and value the relationship. And if you feel grateful for your relationship, you will put forth the work necessary to keep it on stable ground. Further, it has been found that people who express gratitude are more willing to forgive each other. And forgiveness is a key to any successful relationship.

Improves Self-Esteem

Similarly, feeling grateful helps you feel better about yourself. If you appreciate other people, you are also more likely to value yourself. Research has consistently found a positive association between self-esteem and gratitude. Grateful people are more likely to have an overall positive view of the world and, as an extension, themselves.

Decreases Stress

Stress is a killer. It is linked with multiple ailments, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Gratitude can act as an inoculation against stress. It significantly lowers the stress hormone cortisol. It has also been found to alleviate stress for caregivers and job-seekers. If you want to decrease the strains of life, a daily practice of gratitude is a good start.

Improves Physical Health

Gratitude is also good for your physical health. Feeling grateful is correlated with multiple health benefits, including fewer headaches, congestion, stomach pain, and cold symptoms. Grateful people also practice more self-care. They exercise more, sleep better, and visit doctors more often for medical concerns. Maybe that is why they get sick less often.

How To Gratitude

Being grateful does not have to involve a great amount of effort. Here are some ways to be grateful that any person can do with little trouble.

Say Thank You

Not only is this incredibly easy, but it is also just good manners. You can say “thank you” verbally or through a thank-you note or gift. Think about how you feel when someone says “thank you” to you. Or, even better, take a look at someone’s face after you thank them. A simple thank you makes everyone feel better.

Gratitude Journal

Most people do not take the time to appreciate the good things in their life. But writing down all the items you are grateful for will force you to think about them and cement them in your mind. Plus, journaling is something that can be done with minimal effort. Take five minutes at bedtime to review the people and situations in your life that inspire gratitude.

Volunteering

Giving your time and energy to someone else is the ultimate expression of gratitude. It shows you appreciate a person’s situation and that you are willing to do something to help. Volunteering is an unselfish act that is both self-rewarding and generous at the same time. What’s more, there are innumerable causes looking for volunteers. Find one that is near and dear to your heart and make someone’s day.

Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is beneficial for many problems, including anxiety and depression. With meditation, you can focus on different aspects of your person, such as your breathing or your senses. You can also focus on the aspects of your life that inspire gratitude. Think of it as a way to journal without needing to write it down.

Gratitude is an entirely positive emotion. It is associated with many benefits for your mental and physical health. Additionally, it makes other people feel good. There is really no downside to feeling and expressing gratitude. What’s more, it is easy to perform. So, if you want to make the world a better place, spend a few minutes being grateful. It will make your (and others’) day.