How Practicing Gratitude Changes You
Midjourney
Attitude of Gratitude: Cultivating gratitude is good for both the mind and body. Research has found that the act of writing about what we’re grateful for has an additional benefit: It can make us feel more selfless and generous toward others.
The Study: Psychologists at Harvard and the University of Oregon ran a small study of 33 young women, randomly assigning them to keep a daily gratitude journal or write about neutral topics for three weeks. MRI scans showed changes in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex — a brain region linked to altruism — and the gratitude group took more pleasure in seeing money go to a food charity than in receiving it themselves.
The Takeaway: Generosity and selflessness toward others are not only traits that can be nurtured, but they can also grow from the simple act of reflecting on our own gratitude. Plus, more recent research has found that gratitude can actually help us live longer, healthier lives. Gratitude can improve mental and social wellbeing and sleep, and lower the risk of depression, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.
Keep In Mind: The study was very small and only short-term, so how long the altruism lasts is unclear. It also was conducted only on young adult women, not on other populations.
