Did you know? Gratefulness makes you feel good
Did you know gratitude can change you and your brain – for the better? Research shared in UC Berkeley’s Greater Good magazine is exploring how gratitude works to improve our mental health.
Practicing gratitude can have significant positive effects on your mental health. Studies have shown that writing a letter of gratitude to someone else each week for three weeks can improve mental health, even in individuals who struggle with mental health concerns.
By shifting one’s attention away from negative emotions such as resentment and envy, gratitude can unshackle us from toxic emotions, and even if we do not send the letters to the intended recipient, we still benefit from experiencing gratitude. Although the mental health benefits of gratitude writing may take time to emerge, the shift in focus to positive feelings and thoughts is well worth the effort.