Most of us know that expressing our gratitude is not only good manners but it also makes the other person feel good. But did you also know that it’s good for you too?
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie
Research at the Harvard Business School shows that sharing a specific gratitude every day improves productivity and accuracy in our work. According to author Mike Oppland, professional basketball player, coach and teacher, research also shows that gratitude can:
Help you make friends. One study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek a more lasting relationship with you.
Improve your physical health. People who exhibit gratitude report fewer aches and pains, a general feeling of health, more regular exercise, and more frequent checkups with their doctor than those who don’t.
Improve your psychological health. Grateful people enjoy higher well-being and happiness and suffer from reduced symptoms of depression.
Enhance empathy and reduce aggression. Those who show their gratitude are less likely to seek revenge against others and more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, with sensitivity and empathy.
Improve your sleep. Practicing gratitude regularly can help you sleep longer and better.
Enhance your self-esteem. People who are grateful have increased self-esteem, partly due to their ability to appreciate other peoples’ accomplishments.
Increase in mental strength. Grateful people have an advantage in overcoming trauma and enhanced resilience, helping them to bounce back from highly stressful situations. (Morin, 2014).
If you’re in pain or recovering from an injury, it can be challenging to see the blessing in your current situation. Having a trusted physical therapist to help you monitor your progress and give you not only the most appropriate goal but also the best tools to achieve it can make a big difference in your full recovery. Let the compassionate and skilled team at CompassPT brighten your way to health.
And regardless of your physical condition, check out these 13 tips on how to cultivate your own gratitude practice.