{"id":296,"date":"2023-05-03T23:19:12","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T23:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellbeings.nz\/?p=296"},"modified":"2023-05-04T05:11:19","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T05:11:19","slug":"the-science-of-gratitude-and-why-its-so-important-for-our-overall-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellbeings.nz\/the-science-of-gratitude-and-why-its-so-important-for-our-overall-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"The science of gratitude, and why it\u2019s so important for our overall wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The science of gratitude, and why it\u2019s so important for our overall wellbeing.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we tip into the last quarter of the year, it\u2019s a good time to reflect on 2022 and identify all the things you\u2019re feeling grateful for so far. These can of course be big things, like starting a new business, or having a baby, but it\u2019s also important to celebrate the smaller wins as well. Often it\u2019s the culmination of the small things that really make the biggest impact on our mindset, like finally keeping your indoor plants alive, or finishing a project at work that you\u2019re really proud of. Spending time reflecting and taking stock of all these seemingly small accomplishments will have a greater impact on your life than you can begin to imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the tumultuous events of the past few years, celebrating our wins may be more difficult than usual, but in fact, this makes it all the more important that we focus on the positives – whatever these may look like. Whether it\u2019s learning a new skill to adapt to the changing employment landscape, or picking up a hobby during lockdown, we have all achieved more than we might think – well against the odds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are six surprising benefits of practicing gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s great for your mindset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Two psychologists, Dr Roberts A Emmons of the University of California, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, have done significant research<\/a> on the concept of giving thanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept of the experiment was simple; one group were asked to write a few sentences about things they were grateful for that week, the second group were asked to write about irritations that happened in the week, the third to write about things that affected them[MOU1] . After 10 weeks, the group who were focusing on the positive side of life reported that they were feeling more optimistic about their lives. The members of this group were also found to exercise more and had fewer visits to the doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s great for your patience and self-control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/a> from Northeastern University found that people who were practicing gratitude regularly, were able to make better and more sensible decisions.<\/a> When 105 students were asked whether they would prefer to receive a small amount of money immediately, or a large amount of money at some point in the future, the students who had exhibited gratitude were more likely to hold out for the larger amount. \u201c[When] you cultivate gratitude in your life, it\u2019s like a self-control buffer. It helps you more frequently be ready to resist temptation and do the right thing, whatever that right thing may be,\u201d says  study author David DeSteno, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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