Thankfulness is a Natural Anti-Depressant

Gratitude, gratefulness and thankfulness, are powerful human emotions. By conveying and receiving simple ‘thank you’, 'I appreciate you' 'I am grateful for you' messages, we can truly bring more of the pleasure that we seek everywhere else in life. Gratitude, derived from the Latin word ‘gratia’, means gratefulness or thankfulness. #theconsciousintuitive #karen.fiorucci #gratefulness #cultivategratitude

In its simplest form, gratitude refers to a ‘state of thankfulness’ or a ‘state of being grateful’. makes us feel happier. It has such a healing effect on us. (Russell and Fosh a, 2008). There are endless benefits to thankfulness and grateful attitudes.

Gratitude improves interpersonal relationships at home and work. The connection between gratitude and happiness is multi-dimensional. Expressing gratitude not only to others but also to ourselves, induces positive emotions, primarily happiness. By producing feelings of pleasure and contentment, gratitude impacts on our overall health and well-being as well.

In a survey on gratitude in adult professionals, British psychologist and wellness coach, expert Robert Holden found that 65 of 100 people selected happiness over health, although they indicated that both were equally important for a good life. Holden, in his study, suggested that the roots of many psychopathological conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress are shear unhappiness.

Simple practices like deep breathing patterns and also maintaining a journal of gratitude cultivates and brings things into more perspective especially if you need to become more positive. A gratitude journal helps with feeling less stress, improves the quality of sleep, and builds emotional awareness. Complimenting the self is another good practice, or sending small tokens and thank you notes can make us feel a lot better and enhance our mood immediately. I don't know about you, but when I express my gratitude it beings me more joy. Studies have also indicated that partners who expressed their thankfulness to each other often, could sustain their relationships with more mutual trust, loyalty, and had long-lasting happy tolerances with each other.

Employees who have a mindset to practice expressing gratitude at work are more likely to volunteer for more assignments, willing to take an extra work to accomplish their tasks, and happily work as a part of the team. Also, managers and supervisors who feel grateful and remember to convey the same, have a stronger group cohesiveness and better productivity. they say that Gratitude makes a leader more compassionate, considerate, empathetic, and well liked amongst others.

The effects of Gratitude, when practiced daily can be almost the same as medication or supplementation. It produces a feeling of long-lasting happiness and contentment, the physiological basis of which lies at the neurotransmitter level.

Gratitude and Thankfulness is a process of cultivating more JOY within your life.

When we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.

By consciously practicing gratitude everyday, we can help these neural pathways to strengthen themselves and ultimately create a permanent grateful and positive nature within ourselves.

We are coming up to a weekend where we gather family and friends and celebrate what is good, what we feel thankful for. Most families I know don't make or create the time to extend a gesture around the dinner table at Thanksgiving. How about expressing yourself and making someone's day or week more bright?

Who or what are you grateful for today?