Hello happy people, hope everything is going well for everyone. In this article, we will be exploring the amazing benefits of Gratitude and the magic miracles happening inside our brain of staying grateful all the time by celebrating the blessings of our life.
Ever wondered how a simple "Thank you" can unlock the secrets of both your mind and the ages? From a scientific standpoint, gratitude isn't merely just being polite and instead, it is a profound Neural phenomenon. When we consciously express thanks to someone, our brains respond with a surge of feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. And this natural high elevates not only our mood but also our overall sense of well-being.
Gratitude simply means "a state of thankfulness." Thanking others, ourselves, Mother Nature, or the Almighty - gratitude in any form can enlighten the mind and make us feel happier all the time.
We often tend to complain about what we don't have, what we can't do, and what we didn't get out of life. But now, it's the time to question the actual importance of many important things that we have in life right now. I genuinely encourage you to see the glass half full and switch gears from focusing on what we don't have, to recognizing and appreciating the blessings that we do have.
A Mercedes met with an accident
A man called for a party, and everybody came. Everybody was dancing and there was absolute excitement in the air, and nobody knew what this party was called for. He called and so they all came. So, one person took a lot of hesitation and finally asked "Is there any purpose behind this party?" The man replied, "Yeah, you didn't know that?"
The man said, "This morning my Mercedes Benz met with a very bad accident and it's completely damaged.” Everybody stopped dancing. Everyone asked, "What? Your Mercedes Benz met with an accident, and you called us for the party?" The man replied, " Yes, nothing happened to the driver. You all know who drove the car? - Well, it's me. I was driving!”. The man paused for a moment and said ' The Mercedes Benz is gone and with money, I'll buy ten more in my lifetime. But if my little finger has gone, it's gone completely.
There are many things to be thankful for despite the chaos around us. But it is so easy to get caught up in negative thinking and focus on what we don't have versus what we do.
Happiness is the celebration of blessings in life.
How gratitude affects the brain
"It is not the happiness that brings us gratitude. It is the gratitude that brings us happiness."
Gratitude may be a gesture or a group of kind words that we give or receive from others. But this simple exchange of thankfulness goes a long way in affecting our overall biological functioning, especially the brain and the nervous system.
● Gratitude releases toxic emotions
The limbic system is the part of the brain that is responsible for all emotional experiences. It consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate gyrus. Recent studies have shown that the regions Hippocampus and Amygdala, the two main sites regulating emotions, memory, and bodily functioning get activated with feelings of gratitude.
● Gratitude reduces pain.
Practicing gratitude leads to the proper regulation of dopamine levels. It basically fills us with more vitality thereby reducing the subjective feelings of pain.
● Gratitude improves sleep quality
Receiving and displaying simple acts of kindness activates the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic regulation triggered by gratitude helps us get deeper and healthier sleep every day.
● Gratitude aids in stress regulation
People who feel grateful show a reduction in the level of Cortisol (stress hormone). They have better cardiac functioning and are more resilient to emotional setbacks and negative experiences. By merely appreciating and acknowledging the little things in life, we can rewire our brains to deal with present circumstances and with more awareness and broader perception.
● Gratitude reduces anxiety and depression
By reducing the stress hormone and the autonomic nervous system functioning, gratitude reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression. At the neurochemical level, the feeling of gratitude is associated with an increase in the Neural modulation of the prefrontal cortex, the brain site responsible for managing negative emotions like guilt, shame, and violence.
How gratitude changes our brain
● Helps us recognise how much we have.
● Makes us feel more positive emotions.
● Help us calm down in tough moments.
● Strengthens our social relationships.
● Helps relieve stress and anxiety.
● Makes us physically and emotionally healthier.
● Helps us sleep better.
Cultivating happiness with gratitude
Unhappy people lean more on their weaknesses and struggle with their self-identity. We must stop doubting ourselves and start celebrating our achievements.
● Appreciation - Standing in front of the mirror and speaking out five good things about us makes the day so beautiful and energetic.
● Gratitude journal - It is our personal space to pen down all the little and big things in life that we are thankful for. There is power in words, so don't overlook the small things, no matter how unimportant they may seem.
● Gratitude visits - We all have someone whose unconditional support and help meant a lot to us. If you have such a person, meet them often to keep you charged all the time. Initiate the plan, go and express the thankfulness one more time - let the person feel important. Exchange some good memories and offer support.
● Do not hesitate to be happy - If you feel happy, don’t ever shy away from it. Remind yourself that you have worked hard enough to achieve this and that you trust and deserve it. Be it a huge achievement or a small success, acknowledge your joy and be thankful for the moment.
● Find a gratitude buddy - Find a gratitude buddy for your daily practice, it can be your partner, friend, or kids. Set aside some minutes every day where you two sit together and discuss the things you are grateful for. Ask questions together and open up informally. Sharing thoughts of gratefulness with someone is a great way to sustain motivation and strengthen our emotional skills.
Take-home message
Practicing gratitude is synonymous with expressing our feelings for others and ourselves. By simple words of love and praise, we not only make others feel good but also feel a lot better about ourselves and our lives. Gratitude is about feeling the right way, about the right things, and at the right time. It is inseparably linked with self-discipline and motivation.
"The biggest asset in the world is your mindset ".
It may not give us instant relief from pain and stress, but it brings the feeling of control back to us. By acknowledging and appreciating our assets, gratitude gives us the charge of our own lives.
" Gratitude drives happiness.
Happiness boosts productivity.
Productivity reveals mastery.
And mastery inspires the world ".
Everyone deserves to be happy. And the very purpose of life is living.
Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and see how blessed you are!
Let's celebrate our blessings and stay cheerful all along. Let the light within you shine even brighter and my best wishes for everyone to make this universe the happiest heaven!
Feeling so grateful for everything!
Happy smile my dear happy people.
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