Attitude of gratitude

T
he Newcastle Sources of Strength group has launched an Attitude of Gratitude campaign during the Month of November since this is the month many become mindful of being thankful.
Since this is Thanksgiving week, sharing the benefits of adopting an attitude of gratitude seems apropos. 
We all know that a thankful heart is a happy one, so with that in mind, I decided to see just how much good could come from it. It turns out there are at least 28 proven benefits of gratitude.
First, being grateful makes us happier. When we are mindful of the blessings we already have, it makes us feel better about our lives.
Second, it increases our psychological well-being by impacting our self-esteem and easing feelings of depression. Our self-esteem is boosted through a thankful mind-set because when we feel better about our circumstances, we ultimately feel better about ourselves in general.
Third, being grateful enhances our positive emotions because it is hard to be negative and to feel down when we are focusing on the good things in life.
Next, by maintaining gratitude, we remain more emotionally balanced and more positive. Both of these outcomes lesson the potential for thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm.
Aside from the emotional benefits of practicing an attitude of gratitude, being thankful also has positive social implications.
Being grateful makes people like us because it makes us seem more trustworthy, social and appreciative of others —
all of which draws other people to us.
When we express our gratitude to others, it can also improve not only our romantic relationships, but also the quality of our friendships in general. When people know we are thankful for having them in our lives, it makes them feel good and it makes the relationship as a whole
much stronger.
Expressing gratitude can increase our social support when we need it, while simultaneously decreasing the need for it, and it can also strengthen our family relationships in times of stress.
Our overall personality will also benefit from being grateful. Gratitude feeds optimism so practicing it can give us an optimistic attitude about life. 
Gratitude lessens aggressive tendencies while enhancing empathy and increasing our resilience. 
It will increase our spiritualism, make us more giving, and perhaps reduce our materialism because when we appreciate what we have, we are less likely to be focused on acquiring more.   
Being grateful can also help us in our professional, or work, lives. Practicing gratitude enhances our managerial skills because we find it easier to relate to our co-workers and gives us the temperament to lead effectively. 
We will find ourselves less impatient, and it can improve our decision making skills because we will be less likely to be driven by short-term gratification urges.
Gratitude can help us find meaning in our work which is vital in finding joy, and it will help us be dedicated to our work which, in turn, will likely result in success. Being thankful also contributes to reducing the overall stress in our lives.
Even our physical well-being is impacted by an attitude of gratitude. Studies have found that people who count their blessings at least once a week experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure. It also improves your sleep quality, increases your frequency of exercise and improves your overall physical health. 
With the overwhelming evidence of practicing gratitude, it seems a no-brainer that only good can come from it and as I think about thankfulness, a sign hanging in my parents’ house always comes to mind.
It says “Imagine waking up tomorrow with only the things you are thankful for today.” It always reminds me of how many blessings I have in my life, and I ultimately always feel better for it.
 
Source: Ackerman, C. E. MA (2021) 28 benefits of gratitude & most significant research findings. PositivePyschology.com. Retrieved from positivepsychology.com/benefits-gratitude-research-questions/.