Grateful-ology: The science of giving thanks; an art for happiness and resilience

- Ever heard of the "Gratitude Circuit" in our brain? And the “Psychological Immune System”?

Gratitude is among the most powerful life attitudes that lead to happiness in good times and resilience against bad times.

Research has provided ample evidence that having and expressing gratitude are a reliable source of happiness and resilience.

People who count their blessings, appreciating the good things in their lives (even when they do not have many of them), and being grateful to anyone who have done something good toward them, are happier people, as consistently shown in research.

Research also has demonstrated that gratitude enhances emotional resilience, helping individuals cope with stress and adversity by fostering positive emotions and adaptive thinking.

It even promotes long-term brain changes that support mental health and resilience!

Dr. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, explained that gratitude builds a “Psychological Immune System” that cushions against stress; Grateful individuals show greater resilience to both minor hassles and major upheavals by focusing on positive aspects, even in crises.

Not only having gratitude makes you happy, and gives you resilience when facing adversity, expressing gratitude is powerful in making not only the recipient, but yourself, happy and enhancing your resilience as well.

Particularly, a well-done experiment demonstrated that giving thanks not only makes the receiver happy, but can make the giver very happy.

This experiment was described in details in the short video, Happiness Building Blocks.

It turns out, we are actually hardwired in our brain to release “gratitude molecules” that makes us happy when we experience and express gratitude!

I cited some of the research evidence and scientific explanations in the above mentioned video.

Some of the reasons and science behind that was discussed in more details in another video titled “Grateful-ology”, where you could learn about the “Gratitude Circuit” in our brain, and those magical “happy chemicals”!

The videos also introduced an activity of gratitude expressing that is highly effective in increasing happiness and resilience.

Although it was suggested for Thanksgiving, it can be done any time of the year and be just as effective. Give it a try!

(Grateful-ology - The Science and Art of Giving Thanks)

.

As an added benefit to our subscribers, we specifically have personalized guidance and support for learning the skills and practicing gratitude, and for a more fundamental change of your life: cultivating a whole attitude of “grateful-ology” for your personal well-being and resilience. We cordially invite you to join us in this journey!

.

And share this to spread the science and art of Grateful-ology!