“Attitude Takes You to Higher Altitudes” is a favorite saying of mine that indicates my feelings on being grateful. In fact, not only is this my opinion, but there is irrefutable evidence that being grateful rewires the brain. The benefits of gratefulness include reduced pain, healthier lifestyle, better sleep, stress relief, decreased depression, reduced anxiety and increased energy.
In a 2009 National Institutes of Health study, researchers found that the hypothalamus activates when we feel or act grateful and/or display acts of kindness. These acts flood our brain with dopamine, which gives us a natural “high” in our reward center, making us want to perpetuate the acts again. In addition, a 2003 study looked at counting blessings versus burdens. 10 percent of patients reported less pain after writing in a gratitude journal.
Not only does gratitude help us learn to act with more kindness, but it can reduce pain in our bodies and even help us get more rest. A recent study on sleep concluded that patients who said prayers or had thankful thoughts before going to bed fell asleep quickly and had better quality of sleep. So instead of counting sheep, count blessings.
Another great benefit of sleep is stress relief and reduced anxiety, and these also are benefits of gratefulness. Several studies have looked at the benefits of using a gratitude journal. A 2007 study of hypertension patients demonstrated that patients experienced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure. An additional 1998 study showed that 23 percent of heart patients decreased cortisol levels, and 80 percent had increased heart function.
So not only the brain is benefiting, but also healthcare and overall wellbeing is benefiting. In 2005, a study of clients struggling with depression showed an increase in neural modulation and decreased depression by writing letters of thankfulness. In a follow-up study in 2012, a whole slew of patients benefited from reduced anxiety by writing thank-you notes.
Who wouldn’t want the added benefits of increased energy, lengthened lifespan, increased strength, as well as a healthier, more optimistic and more relaxed life?
Approach this season of thankfulness and giving with an attitude of gratitude and reap the benefits. Here are a few ways to be deliberate with the attitude of gratitude as the season of thankfulness and giving approaches.
- Say thank you in person or via text or email. You can also send a handwritten thank you note.
- Count your blessings. Get a container to use as a “blessings box”. Write down each blessing in your life on a piece of paper and put them in the container. When the day is rough, read one of the blessings.
- Keep a gratitude journal, which forces the brain to think in terms of gratefulness daily and then rewards the brain with dopamine to celebrate.
- Do deliberate acts of kindness.
- Post words of gratitude and acts of kindness to Facebook or other social media sites.
- Surround your workplace/home with words of gratefulness and positive affirmations.
- Seek out positive people to be around. Season the grumpy ones with kind words.
- Pray or meditate daily.
- Share affirmative thoughts with others.
- Smile!!
We are so very grateful for the opportunity to change lives every day in our community. If you would like to learn more about LearningRx Shreveport, please call 318-797-8523 or email shreveport.la@learningrx.net. Read about us on our website.
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This article is by Donesa Walker, M.Ed., B.C.C.S., Owner and Executive Director of LearningRx Shreveport-Bossier. Donesa has over 30 years of experience in teaching and educational administration. She opened LearningRx Shreveport-Bossier in 2008. She wanted to help families tackle the root issues behind dyslexia. Since then, both Donesa and her center have received a plethora of awards from local and national organizations. Donesa has published over 20 books and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Psychology. This article was previously published in LOLA magazine and The Collective . I have made some changes to make the article more blog friendly.