The Power of Gratitude: How It Impacts Your Well-being
Written By: Roxan Shymkiw
What is gratitude?
Is gratitude the feeling I get when I manage to get the kids to school on time without anyone forgetting a lunch or book project, walk the dog, and get to a 9:30 meeting with time to spare? Not quite, though I do appreciate the feeling of a win! In that moment, I’m thankful the day is off to a good start, but that sense of thankfulness is an emotional response to the situation (and just maybe my secret superpowers).
Gratitude, on the other hand, is more than a passing emotion. It is a mindset rooted in awareness, compassion, acceptance, and non-judgment, and it isn’t tied to any external factors. It’s a process of self-reflection on what truly matters, and it starts from within. It involves appreciating daily life when nothing exciting happens and seeing things in a positive light, even when everything seems to be going wrong. Gratitude is ongoing and doesn’t falter when life gets hard because it recognizes that challenges are simply part of life.
Cultivating gratitude is a powerful step toward improving your health and emotional well-being. Research shows that gratitude is linked to many benefits, including greater happiness, higher life satisfaction, and better physical and psychological health. While we can’t expect to be happy all of the time, we can practice gratitude by being physically and mentally content in the present moment.
There are many ways to build gratitude, and the more we practice the small steps, the more it becomes a habit. Over time, the gratitude habits we form can rewire the brain to choose to see the positive and appreciate what we have, leading to satisfaction and contentment.
Why Gratitude Matters
Gratitude is a science-backed tool that can improve mental, physical, and emotional health, and studies have shown that regularly practicing gratitude can:
Reduce stress and anxiety. Feeling thankful and appreciative has a calming effect on the nervous system and lowers cortisol levels.
Improve sleep quality and quantity.
Enhance relationships by fostering empathy and appreciation.
Boost levels of happiness by rewiring the brain to focus on positive experiences and what you have rather than what you lack.
Support physical health, improve immune health, and reduce inflammation.
Increase optimism, motivation, and focus to reach goals.
Improve self-care and awareness by reminding us what is important and to live in the moment.
How to Add More Gratitude to Your Life
Adding gratitude into your daily routine isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges. It’s about focusing more attention on the positives rather than the negatives. Here are some ways that you can build more gratitude.
Ask yourself why you want to be more grateful (mental health, stronger relationships, motivation).
Start by identifying one thing that you are grateful for and add something new each day. Over time, you’ll train your brain to naturally spot moments to be grateful.
Use visual gratitude reminders to strengthen the habit of being grateful. Something as simple as a sticky note asking what made you smile today is a reminder to stop and take a moment to be grateful.
Write in a gratitude journal every night. By consistently writing down what you are grateful for, you are reinforcing positive emotions.
Practice expressing gratitude out loud. It can elevate your mood and brighten someone else’s day.
Be present in the moment.
Be kind to yourself. There will be days when it doesn’t come naturally, and developing the practice requires consistent effort and time.
When you choose gratitude, you don’t just change your perspective; you change your life. Gratitude doesn’t ask for perfection, just your presence. Start small, start today, and watch how this quiet practice brings more ease and joy into your life. If you’re inspired to explore gratitude and learn how it can bring more calm, clarity, and balance into your daily life—let’s connect! Reach out to www.noshoesnutrition.com for a free consultation. We work with individuals and groups to share simple, practical ways to build gratitude into their routine.
References
Hill P.L., Allemand A., Roberts B.W. (2013) Examining the pathways between gratitude and self-rated physical health across adulthood. Pers Individ Dif. Jan;54(1):92-96.
