Srinivas Column : Practicing gratitude plays role in wellbeing

Practicing gratitude can significantly increase wellbeing and life satisfaction. It has a profound impact on health, relationships and career.Countless studies have shown that gratitude can bring a variety of physical, psychological, emotional and social benefits. It encourages people to appreciate all the positive elements in their lives. Research study found that those who practice gratitude reported ‘considerably more satisfaction with their lives as a whole.’

Choosing to be thankful may be a right way to boost happiness.Gratitude is a powerful positive force and it shows a positive impact on physical health, and emotional wellbeing. It is an influential and positive emotion of thankfulness and appreciation towards something or someone. Gratitude in simple terms is counting one’s blessings. 

It is more of a spontaneous feeling in a person that makes the person kind, warm and generous. Scientific evidences divulge that when people are thankful to the possessions they have, their physical and emotional health will improve.Gratitude also has a strong link with neuroscience which may reduce torment when people practice it.

Dr Guy Winch, author of the book Emotional First Aid, says, ‘Gratitude is an emotion that grounds us and is a great way to balance out the negative mindset that uncertainty engenders.’ Pastor Will Bowen mentioned in his book, ‘A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Enjoy the Life You Always Wanted,’ he believes that good things can happen for people in abundance if they give up complaining. Practice gratitude in difficult times can reverse situations because it gives a new perspective, helping to see opportunities that we didn’t see before.

Practicing gratitude can significantly increase wellbeing and life satisfaction. It has a profound impact on health, relationships and career. Countless studies have shown that gratitude can bring a variety of physical, psychological, emotional and social benefits. It encourages people to appreciate all the positive elements in their lives.

Research study found that those who practice gratitude reported ‘considerably more satisfaction with their lives as a whole.’ ‘Research studies have shown that being grateful can bring more optimistic and even lower rates of stress and depression.

Psychology research says that having a gratitude practice can increase happiness, improve health, and strengthen ability to deal with adversity, and even enhance relationships. ‘Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. – Cicero.

Practice gratitude shows profuse impact on mental health. Gratitude reduces stress and it also increases awareness of one’s emotions. It helps in reducing the symptoms of anxiety, depression and toxic emotions. It is a strong factor in enhancing positive emotions and helps in building resilience. A study at the University of New South Wales found when people express appreciation, others perceive that they can form a constructive relationship with them.

According to a study by Portland State University, when people received more expressions of gratitude at work, they reported better sleep, fewer headaches, healthier eating and more satisfaction with their jobs.Generally, people who have an attitude of appreciating others tend to have better social support and network of friends. Expressing gratitude and embolden others significantly improve personal and professional relationships because appreciation makes others feel happy and the relationship stands strong. Being appreciative of our co-workers, acquaintances and employers helps keep an ambience of positivity in the workplace.

An appreciative boss is always a happy boss. Showing gratitude to ourselves as well as others brings emotions of kindness, generosity, love and joy.When people practise ‘thank you’, it strengthens bonds between people. It makes relationships stronger.

Research by UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, author of ‘Thanks!’ How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier’ affirms that the benefits of practice gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they’re thankful for experience more positive  emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune system.

He says that a person who experiences gratitude is able to cope more effectively with everyday stress, and may recover more quickly from illness. He says that gratitude is one of the few things that can change people’s lives in a measurable way.

(The writer is Assistant Professor  Department of Commerce PB Siddhartha College of Arts & Science, Vijayawada)