Gratitude’s effect on health
Researchers at the University of California-Davis have found that intentional gratitude can have profound effects on your mental and physical health. Why? On one hand, it reduces the stress that builds up when you feel emotions such as jealousy and resentment. And that can strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, and ease aches and pains. It can even help keep chronic symptoms at bay.
But that’s not all. A large-scale study in The Clinical Psychology Review found that people who actively practiced gratitude were less likely to have anxiety or depression and more likely to feel optimism and happiness. Those feelings tend to have a ripple effect, helping deepen connections with friends, family members, and romantic partners. Forgiveness, compassion, and resilience also proved to be stronger in kids and adults who described themselves as “grateful.”
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