Why Practice Gratitude?

Over the past decade, hundreds of studies have documented the social, physical, and psychological benefits of gratitude. The research suggests these benefits are available to most anyone who practices gratitude, even in the midst of adversity, such as elderly people confronting death, women with breast cancer, and people coping with a chronic muscular disease. Here are some of the top research-based reasons for practicing gratitude.

• Gratitude brings us happiness: Research shows that practicing gratitude is one of the most reliable methods for increasing happiness and life satisfaction; it also boosts feelings of optimism, joy, pleasure, enthusiasm, and other positive emotions.
• Concrastingly, gratitude also reduces anxiety and depression.
• Gratitude is good for our bodies: Gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness, and makes us less bothered by aches and pains. It also encourages us to exercise more and take better care of our health.
• Grateful people sleep better: They get more hours of sleep each night, spend less time awake before falling asleep, and feel more refreshed after awakening.
• Gratitude makes us more resilient: It has been found to help people recover from traumatic events, including War veterans with PTSD.
• Gratitude strengthens relationships: It makes us feel closer and more committed to friends and significant others. When partners feel and express gratitude for each other, they each become more satisfied with their relationship. Gratitude may also encourage a more equitable division of labor between partners.
• Gratitude promotes forgiveness—even between ex-spouses after a divorce.
• Gratitude makes us “pay it forward”: Grateful people are more helpful, altruistic, and compassionate.
• Gratitude is good for kids: When 10-19 year olds practice gratitude, they report greater life satisfaction and more positive emotion, and they feel more connected to their community.
• Gratitude is good for schools: Studies suggest it makes students feel better about their school; it also makes teachers feel more satisfied and accomplished, and less emotionally exhausted, possibly reducing teacher burnout.

The holiday season is a perfect time to implement gratitude, particularly during the Thanksgiving season. The concept of gratitude and paying it forward are easily implemented.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley works with over 130 member agencies with over 180 volunteer opportunities. You can select a venue to share your gratitude or pay it forward. Call (319) 272-2087, email information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org to get involved.