Who does not want to be happy?
However, most of us are confused about what that means. We often choose the wrong ways of trying to achieve happiness, spending a lot of money chasing transient pleasures. And we are reluctant to do some simple, and often free, things which can bring about lasting satisfaction.
Gratitude brings happiness
Most people tend to overlook the established fact that gratitude is a crucial component of happiness. Regular inclusion of grateful thinking into your life can change the way you look at the world. This has been shown to boost happiness levels significantly.
Gifts
No matter how little you have, if you think carefully, you will find gifts that others have given you over time. Life is one of them. Whether your life is ideal, or less than that, it still is a wonderful thing to be alive, at least for the vast majority of us. Except for some people with serious mental health issues, and some with other tragic circumstances, most human beings would choose life over death.
How did you get here?
The human infant is quite helpless. Turning him or her into a functioning adult requires significant effort from numerous people: parents, teachers, friends, community members, relatives. It is naïve to think that you became successful just because of your own hard work.
Acknowledging that, and expressing gratitude for it, is nothing more than accepting reality. This is the first step to developing a healthy attitude to life.
A spark from another
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
-Albert Schweitzer
The sense of awe
Look around you. The sky is amazing, as are the stars. The sun rises every day, and shines upon rich and poor alike. If you have ever enjoyed a sunset at the beach, or looked at majestic mountains, or just walked in the moonlight, you are bound to feel a sense of awe. If you believe in God, thank Him for the miracles of nature. If you do not believe in God, you can still feel grateful for an opportunity to enjoy nature, often free of charge.
Everyday epiphanies
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”
-John Milton
Good in the world
There is good in this world. There are good people, who perform good deeds. There are good things, many of which are free, such as the air we breathe. A self-centered view of the world can lead people to believe that they are the center of the universe. However, gratitude helps us to acknowledge that there are forces of good in this world outside of ourselves, and that these people, these forces, and these things can make a huge difference.
Of course, evil exists, too. And it is talked up all the time. Not too many people think and talk about the good that exists. Turning our attention to that can cause a paradigm shift.
Shift in focus
It is normal for human beings to think of themselves first and foremost. This is an attitude which promotes survival. But taken to an extreme, it becomes a damaging selfishness, which can color our attitude toward everything.
Gratitude allows us to shift our focus from ourselves to others, and encourages us to become more appreciative citizens of a global community. This is not just mumbo-jumbo. A grateful attitude has important, well-documented benefits.
More happy, less depressed
Research studies by Robert A. Emmons, PhD, suggest that gratitude leads to an increase in happiness and a reduction in depression.
Emmons is a leading researcher in the field of gratitude.
Gratitude journal
Keeping a journal in which people regularly jot down things and people they are grateful for has been shown to improve the health and happiness of users.
Interestingly, it appears that writing down your feelings of appreciation and thankfulness even once a week in a journal has beneficial effects.
Sleep better
A study published in 2011 in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being revealed the positive effects of gratitude on sleep. People who keep a gratitude journal, and spend even 15 minutes a night writing down grateful sentiments tend to sleep longer and better.
Stress, optimism, immunity
The research of Dr Emmons suggests that feelings of thankfulness enable people to deal better with stress and other day-to-day problems.
There is also a link between gratitude and feelings of optimism. And there is some suggestion that optimism is linked to better immune function.
Better health
People who regularly express gratitude tend to exercise more often, and report fewer physical symptoms. In general, they admit to feeling more healthy compared to other people.
Teenagers
A 2010 study in the Journal of Happiness Studies showed that high school students who are grateful have higher GPAs. They also have fewer signs of depression or envy.
Other studies reveal that grateful teenagers are better behaved in school and more hopeful.
Relationships
Gratitude and friendship go hand in hand. Grateful people recognize the positive contributions others make in their lives. As such, they tend to connect better with other people and have stronger personal relationships.
Athletic burn out
The journal Social Indicators Research published a study in 2008 showing that athletes who were grateful had higher life satisfaction and team satisfaction, and were less likely to suffer from burn out.
Conclusion
- A world-view that begins and ends with oneself is unlikely to lead to lasting happiness.
- Acquisition of material goods is unlikely to cause permanent joy.
- Long-term satisfaction with life often requires a shift in the way we perceive ourselves and the world.
- Developing and practicing a sense of gratitude has been shown to promote happiness and a feeling of well-being.
- Even if you have very little, you can find something or someone to be grateful for.
- Research into gratefulness has documented several physical and mental health benefits.
Call to action
- Think of people who have helped you get where you are in life.
- Appreciate what you have.
- Keep a gratitude journal and write in it at least once a week.
