We all know being grateful is a good thing - it increases mental health, broadens our mind’s perspective, and helps to improve our overall mood. But gratefulness is not just an internal mood-booster, and it’s more than a practice merely appreciated by God. It’s a disciplined state of mind that regulates our hearts - and its effects go beyond our inner thoughts and feelings.

Studies show that gratitude pushes past the limits of our minds, working to help heal both our bodies and brains. It kickstarts the production of dopamine and serotonin, feel-good neurotransmitters that fight depression and anxiety, and also serve for a better night’s rest¹. These guys help build a self-perpetuating positivity bend, making us more likely to see the good and stay grateful. It all amounts to a positive psychological well-being that sets the rest of our bodies up for ultimate success. Having this consistent, healthy state of mind is associated with low risk of heart disease and stroke. It's positively correlated with longer life expectancy and overall tendency towards physical well-being .

Gratitude cultivates a mental environment that allows our physical environments to thrive. No wonder Paul says to be “…transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2). It’s the internal powerhouse that literally changes everything. And when that powerhouse is fueled by a regular dose of gratitude, it helps all our moving pieces work just as they were intended.

How to tap into this superpower, you ask? These three simple tips will definitely do the trick:

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Reach for your journal and write those “thank you’s” down.
Gratitude journals actually work – like, real scientists have proven this! Take a minute each night and jot down three things you’re grateful for. Challenge yourself to write something new each time. Sit in that feeling before going to bed and notice how you feel in the morning!
Tell someone, every day, just how grateful you are for them.
It can be a friend, a spouse, or the clerk at the grocery store. Tell someone thank you, and why who they are or what they do really matters.
It all starts within.
Say you have a tendency to pick at your flaws when you’re zoned out brushing your teeth in the morning or washing your face at night. Instead, use this time to intentionally be grateful for something you see when looking in the mirror. Gratitude always starts from within. The more you’re able to show gratitude toward yourself, the more you’ll be able to freely extend it to others. Next time your thoughts try to tear you down, flex that gratitude muscle and lift yourself up. Celebrate who you are and how far you’ve come - know that you truly deserve it!

Remember that gratitude is something God calls us to practice and keep. It reminds us of just how good he is, has been, and will continue to be. This past-present-future expectation of God’s goodness has the power to put our minds and bodies at ease.

^{1. Ng M-Y, Wong W-S. The differential effects of gratitude and sleep on psychological distress in patients with chronic pain. Journal of Health Psychology. 2013;18(2):263-271. doi:10.1177/1359105312439733}

Gratitude for the Body and the Brain

Reach for your journal and write those “thank you’s” down.

Tell someone, every day, just how grateful you are for them.

It all starts within.