Gratitude Could Completely Change Your Health
When I woke up yesterday, it hit me.
As soon as I opened my eyes, the anxiety rushed in.
I don’t know why my day starts like that sometimes. As soon as my brain starts going, it makes a list of all the things I need to get done, the things I still haven’t done, the discouraging conversation or tone of voice a friend took with me—all of it floods my mind when I wake up.
While I normally get up and start chugging away at my to-do list, yesterday was different. The anxiety felt heavier. So, I prayed. I asked God for help for the day, and I told Him about things I was grateful for, including some of His characteristics.
The anxiety didn’t go away for the entire day (my computer crashed and delayed my work by a few hours, so you can see how that part of the day didn’t work out), but it did lighten. I didn’t feel the panic in my chest when I got out of bed.
I was able to take the morning more lightly. And, when things did go awry later, I was able to take it with less panic and stress.
Gratitude doesn’t just change a single moment. A lifestyle influenced by gratitude—an attitude of gratitude, if you will—can change your life.
And, there’s research to back it up!
Gratitude trumps anxiety. Neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren, in a discussion with Susie Larson, said that “neurologically, the antidote to anxiety is gratitude.”
He explained that the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls your fight-or-flight response, is like a one-way switch. It will either activate the anxiety-controlling part of your brain (the amygdala), or it will activate the other parts of your brain that help reduce stress and promote peace.
Anxiety and genuine gratitude cannot exist at the same time.
Gratitude could lower depression. A 2021 study published in the International Journal of Depression and Anxiety looked at the responses of over 26,000 participants and found that “higher gratitude was significantly associated with lower depression.”
That isn’t to downplay the symptoms of depression. When you’re depressed, it can be difficult or nearly impossible to think of things for which you can be grateful. Cultivating an ongoing practice of thankfulness, though, can help lessen the likelihood and effects of depression.
It’s good for your heart, too! And we don’t just mean your metaphorical or spiritual heart. Gratitude is good for your heart health.
According to an article by UCLA Health, gratitude can reduce the risk of heart disease. Thinking grateful thoughts, and even writing them down regularly, can help regulate your breathing to align with your heartbeat. Less stress on your heart is good for your heart!
A regular practice of gratitude can improve your sleep quality. Focusing on the positives in life helps you to relax and reduces stress, so it makes sense that you'd experience higher quality of sleep as a result.
When you rest well, you experience tons of other benefits. Quality sleep can boost your immune system, improve cognitive function, help you recover from workouts more quickly, and more!
Now that we’ve talked about just a few reasons why an attitude of gratitude is good for you, let’s talk about a few practical ways to cultivate one!
Start by taking a deep breath. Now, one at a time, think of five things you’re grateful for: one thing you can see, one thing you can touch, one thing you can taste, one thing you can hear, and one thing you can smell.
You can think about these things, say them aloud, or even use them as a prompt to start a gratitude journal.
Here are some other gratitude prompts from our “Journaling for Gratitude” video you can utilize this week:
List something you're grateful for from today, this week and this month.
Think about a challenge you experienced that brought you something positive.
Think about something someone else did for you that you are grateful for.
Think about something you did for yourself that you are grateful for.
Write a prayer to the Lord thanking Him for all He has given you!
You can revisit these prompts as often as you’d like. We’re praying they’ll help you to more easily recognize God’s blessings and provision in your life. He is good!
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