5 Ways Gratitude Changes Your Brain
It’s easy to talk about thankfulness during this time of year. But instead of just isolating these practices to a holiday in November, what if we took this as an opportunity to begin a consistent practice that would have major impacts on our daily functioning? Gratitude changes your brain at a biological level, and its implications are far-reaching for your ability to think and function on a daily basis.
Also, the positive effects of gratitude on your brain are not short-lived. A study found that consistent thankfulness practices continue to grow in effectiveness and show results even 3 months later. Gratitude is a far-reaching practice that can help anyone of any age!
Here are 5 Ways Gratitude Changes Your Brain:
Gratitude Gives You a Better Mood
Gratitude has a major impact on your outlook on life, but there are biological reasons to back this up. Researchers continue to find that people with consistent gratitude habits report less anxiety and depression, more optimism, and better interpersonal relationships than those who do not report regular thankfulness. Gratitude causes multiple areas of your brain to engage to help lessen feelings of isolation or despair and improve optimism.
This improved mood often impacts your relationships, your attention span, and your ability to persevere when life (inevitably) gets hard.
Gratitude Gives You More Energy
People who regularly practice gratitude tend to be more physically active than their non-grateful counterparts. Additionally, the better mood and improved sleep that come with gratitude practices may make it easier for you to fully engage in your day-to-day life.
Gratitude Lessens Feelings of Stress
In a study done at UCLA, researchers found that gratitude engages areas of the brain that also help reduce your feelings of stress in daily life. It is a perspective shift, yes. But gratitude is also a fundamental change in your brain chemistry that helps you feel more optimistic and less worn down by stressors.
Gratitude Positively Engages the Hypothalamus
Gratitude also affects the hypothalamus. This is a critical area at the base of your brain that regulates things like certain hormones, body temperature, appetite, sleep, metabolism, and more. Consistent gratitude practices appear to positively impact the way this area of your brain functions on a daily basis, including helping you sleep better!
Gratitude Releases Dopamine, the Pleasure Neurotransmitter
A key neurotransmitter in your brain, dopamine is released when your brain perceives something pleasurable. Gratitude causes the release of this feel-good chemical and makes you more likely to want to repeat the action. Dopamine has many positive downstream effects on your brain and body, including:
- Improving focus
- Helping you stay on task for longer
- Increasing feelings of motivation
- Enabling long-term recall
- Stabilizing your mood so you feel better in general
- Improving physical stamina for sports, exercise, and day-to-day life
Brain Changes Change Your Life
Improving the way your brain interacts with the world is fundamentally life-changing. At LearningRx, we believe in helping everyone achieve their fullest potential. Labels of being “slow,” “disengaged,” “behind,” or anything else don’t have to be your story. Training your brain and improving the way it interacts with the world is an incredible way to build confidence, critical thinking skills, and perspective!
