Gratitude is the realization that the sources of good are outside of ourselves. If other people or even higher forces help to achieve a sense of happiness to one degree or another, then gratitude is that reinforcing emotion that encourages not only to appreciate an act or gift, but also reciprocate.
Being thankful is good for your health.
Over the past decade, hundreds of studies have documented the social, physical, and moral aspects of why it is important to be thankful:
- Appreciation is what brings happiness and contentment to life. The feeling of gratitude increases optimism, joy, pleasure, enthusiasm and causes other positive emotions.
- Signs of anxiety and depression are greatly reduced.
- The immune system is strengthened, blood pressure is reduced, the symptoms of the disease are reduced, the pains become less severe. Take care of your health? Be thankful.
- Grateful people fall asleep better and relax more during sleep.
- Relations with other people are becoming more stable and strong.
- Gratitude is also a powerful tool for strengthening interpersonal relationships. People who express their gratitude are generally more willing to forgive others and are less narcissistic.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude has various meanings in the theory of positive psychology. Most of us associate this concept with the word "thank you" addressed to the one who helped, provided a service or made a gift. However, not all so simple. Gratitude is not only words or actions, it is also positive emotions, a willingness to return good. Firstly, the recognition of goodness in human life comes. In a state of gratitude, we say yes to life. Secondly, gratitude recognizes that some of the sources of this good lie outside us, and you can be grateful to other people, animals, the world as a whole, and not just to ourselves.
The main objectives of gratitude
People can use gratitude to form new or improve old friendships, apologize or help solve other problems that they may encounter. Appreciation is essentially a useful process. Just saying thank you for being and being alive is a great way to motivate. The idea that tomorrow may not come, pushes some people to realize the value of each day lived. Thanking people is not for reciprocity, but to show how much we value them.
Sharing positive emotions
Acknowledgment is something that can be contagious, in the good sense of the word. Gratitude practice can create a larger social circle of goodness. It is not necessary to reciprocate the person who thanked you, you can go ahead and say thanks to strangers, even for the little things.
Useful Tips
- Say thanks at least once a day.
- Before going to bed, think about the positive things that happened during the day.
- Send letters of thanks to close people and friends.
Centuries-old wisdom reminds humanity that appreciation is our natural ability. Along with gratitude, other qualities associated with it are revealed, for example, compassion, generosity and many other positive states.