Gratitude: A Game Changer

The Why

As we approach Thanksgiving, it seems like the perfect time to focus on the power of gratitude. I have written several posts focused on building resilience, and one of the ways in which people can increase their resilience is by practicing gratitude. During the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, several credible organizations focused on providing information to the public to help them through stressful times. Many sources even seem to suggest your brain can’t be grateful and stressed at the same time.

The What

According to a 2020 article in Psychology Today, gratitude helps to rewire our brains to be more positive and resilient. According to the article, “Gratitude… is connected to cognitive reappraisal (or reframing). This simply means we have control over our perspective and how we choose to see things.” (Thompson, 2020).

An article in Harvard Business Review shared that “When we express gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin — two hormones that make us feel lighter and happier inside.”(Littlefield, 2020). The Mayo Clinic shared that “behavior changes biology… Positive gestures benefit you by releasing oxytocin, a hormone that helps connect people. Some people call it the love hormone.” (Logan, 2022).

The How

To make gratitude a habit, experts recommend:

• Pause and Reflect: When stressed, take a moment to ask yourself some questions to get your brain to search for things that you may be taking for granted, or that you are thankful for.

• Write a Gratitude Journal: Take a few moments at the start and end of your day to write about one thing for which you are truly grateful: something that made you happy, something someone did that was nice, or something nice you did for someone else.

• Enjoy it and build it into your routine: By creating the habit of focusing on things you are grateful for; you are creating the necessary connections in your brain to make the benefits of gratitude an automatic and more lasting experience.