Why Gratitude is What We Need Right Now.

During Covid-19 I have become more grateful, grateful for my health, my family, my home, my garden, spring and sunshine. I am deeply grateful that I have the option of staying home and staying safe and therefore immensely grateful of those essential workers we all reply upon so much.

Keeping a gratitude journal is often a homework task I set for my clients and here’s why.

The effects of gratitude when practised daily can be almost the same as medications for depression and anxiety.

Gratitude in all forms is associated with happiness. When we express or receive gratitude our brain releases dopamine and serotonin- feel good neurotransmitters. If we develop a daily practice of gratitude we can strengthen neural pathways creating long lasting effects.

At a neurobiological level gratitude regulates the sympathetic nervous system that activates our anxiety responses, and at the psychological level it conditions the brain to filter the negative ruminations and focus on the positive thoughts.

Researchers have shown that gratitude

Lowers stress

Improves sleep

Reduces pain

Reduces anxiety

Lifts depression

Creates emotional resilience

And impressively regulates effective functioning of the immune system.

So right now for so many reasons and in so many ways there has never been a time to be more grateful.

Let me know what you are most grateful for right now.