Every year, on the third Thursday of November, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day with gratitude. We voice our blessings, give thanks for our health, and show appreciation for the people around us. However, gratitude is a powerful feeling that goes beyond a list of things we are thankful for.
Being genuinely grateful is also a kind gesture towards others. Additionally, it has a profound impact on our health and well-being. Grateful people are healthier, happier, and more empathetic. Therefore, it is essential to spend time cultivating this feeling.
At Triple-S, we believe giving thanks should happen more than once a day because three times is better than once. So, this Thanksgiving, let’s multiply the thanks by three. Practice gratitude in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. For example, when you walk your dog, at the end of a workout, and when you see your family at the end of the day.
Gratitude has a positive effect on you. That’s why this Thanksgiving and every day, let’s be thankful three times as much. Numerous studies have shown that grateful people enjoy better health overall, related to a series of benefits for the mind and body. Some benefits are:
1. Reduced stress
Gratitude can act as a buffer against stress. When we focus on the things, we are grateful for, we reduce the production of stress hormones, such as cortisol, contributing to a feeling of calm and well-being.
2. Better sleep
Grateful people tend to experience better quality of sleep. Focusing on positive thoughts before falling asleep reduces your worries and staves off insomnia, which improves the quality of rest. We should recount the things and people we are grateful for every night, as if every day were Thanksgiving.
3. Greater resilience
Gratitude fosters emotional resilience. Grateful people tend to cope better with life’s challenges and adversities, strengthening their ability to overcome obstacles.
What does this have to do with happiness?
When we appreciate what we have, we cultivate a sense of satisfaction and joy in our lives, leading to noticeable changes, such as:
1. Change of perspective
Being grateful helps us shift our focus from what we lack to what we have. This makes us less inclined to constantly compare ourselves with others, which often leads to dissatisfaction.
2. Stronger relationships
Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships. Saying “thank you” and showing appreciation for others creates stronger bonds and a healthier social support network.
3. Increased optimism
Grateful people tend to be more optimistic. Looking at the positive side of life and valuing everyday experiences goes a long way toward overall happiness.
Gratitude and Empathy
Gratitude is also related to empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. When we are grateful, we recognize the goodness of others and value their actions. In summary, gratitude is not just a kind gesture but a powerful force that can improve our health, increase our happiness, and strengthen our empathy. Take the time to do this; you will make a significant difference in how we experience the world and our relationships with those around us.
