The Power of Practicing Gratitude
Practicing gratitude—especially when it becomes part of your daily routine—can have powerful effects on your emotional wellbeing and physical health.
Putting gratitude into practice has been shown to help people improve mood, manage stress, improve sleep, and lower blood pressure and inflammation—which is good news for your heart and cardiovascular system.
But what does it mean to practice gratitude? And how can you get started? Here are some ideas and resources.
From Thankful to Grateful
The words “grateful” and “thankful” may seem the same, but there’s a difference. Some explain it this way: You are thankful for specific things, like having a roof over your head. Being grateful is more of a frame of mind. It’s a deep appreciation for the good things in life, which can shape your overall outlook and may explain gratitude’s effects on health and wellness.
Putting Gratitude Into Practice
As with any lifestyle change, it helps to set a series of small, realistic goals you can work toward. A few ways to get started on your gratitude journey include keeping a daily gratitude journal, writing heartfelt thank you notes to friends, family, or anyone who has made your day better, or celebrating self-care by patting yourself on the back for making healthy choices.
Listen to an Expert
If you only have a few minutes to find out more about gratitude, listen to licensed counselor Yarvell Gardner who covers more about the benefits of practicing gratitude and offers ways we can all practice it in our daily lives on this episode of the Five Minutes to Feed Your Potential podcast.
Note: Since everyone’s health history and nutritional needs are so different, please make sure that you talk with your doctor and a registered dietitian to get advice about the diet and exercise plan that‘s right for you.