It's a simple practice and the benefits are potentially life altering. A daily habit of gratitude; whether taking a few moments to awe at the beauty of life or jotting down a list of all that you have on the daily can lead to a healthier and happier life. Still not convinced? Then check out these 5 scientific proven reasons.
1. Grateful People Sleep Better- Now that is a lullaby to our ears, with so much stimulation in our world today our sleep is everything. In the 2011 published study in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, writing in a gratitude journal for 15 minutes before bed can lead to more restful and longer sleep sessions.
2. Gratitude Improves Self of Steam- That's right, be your bad self and own it! In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology researchers found that gratitude improved athletes self esteem. Grateful people are able to appreciate others accomplishments allowing them more room to love themselves rather than resent people with better jobs or more money.
3. Gratitude Makes Us Happier- If you're happy and you know it clap your hands! Research by Robert Emmons and his colleagues found that gratitude can permanently raise our level of happiness past its genetically determined point. It allows us to see the good in our life which in turn helps us develop more positive feelings for ourselves and life.
4. Gratitude Strengthens Our Immune System- Goodbye sick days, hello fun days! Gratitude increases levels of immunoglobulin A, a predominant antibody that serves as the body's first line of defense against viruses.
5. Gratitude Makes Us More Creative- Tap into your inner Dali and spark your creativity. Positive emotions like gratitude broaden our mind explains Barbara Fredrickson in her book, Positivity. Our field of vision literally expands and we see more, both internally and externally. As a result we come up with more creative ideas and find more solutions.
So let's ditch the pity party and jump on the gratitude train!