{"id":16035,"date":"2022-01-05T16:33:20","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T14:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?p=16035"},"modified":"2023-06-14T14:35:48","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T12:35:48","slug":"give-thanks-25-benefits-of-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/give-thanks-25-benefits-of-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Give Thanks & Thrive: 25 Benefits of Expressing Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The importance of saying \u201cthank you\u201d is one of the main things we are taught as children. We are repeatedly encouraged to give thanks to strangers and friends who have shown us kindness. This is because parents know that showing gratitude is essential to form social connections and good cooperative relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gratitude is the ability to recognize and appreciate the contributions made by others to our life and to return the kindness shown to us [1].  When we spend quality time with others, feeling grateful, protected, and loved is normal. Showing gratitude for the positive experiences in our lives, and appreciating the good people around us, solidifies the positive feelings experienced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, research supports the idea that gratitude can increase peace of mind and happiness and lead to better physical health and more fulfilling relationships [1].<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, it\u2019s easy to neglect or forget the habit of expressing gratitude on a regular basis. To inspire and encourage you to pay extra attention to the importance of giving thanks, in this article, we will cover 25 science-based benefits of gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n

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#1 Gratitude Can Make Your Attachment More Secure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All the relationships we have in our lives are in some way influenced by the attachment styles<\/a> we develop as children. The good news is, not everything is necessarily set in stone. Though attachment styles develop at an early age, they can be influenced by life experiences. For example, the people we meet throughout our lives can impact how we perceive and act towards others. Positive interactions can leave us feeling good and happy, and thus have a beneficial effect on attachment security. On the other hand, negative experiences can reinforce negative views and prejudices and could have the opposite effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attachment<\/a> and gratitude have a two-way relationship: being grateful makes you more secure, and a secure attachment<\/a> makes you more grateful.<\/strong> This is because people with secure attachment tend to have more positive opinions of others and their motives, and they approach new encounters with an open mind and a positive attitude [1]. On the other hand, people with insecure attachment styles tend to be wary of other people\u2019s good intentions. This insecurity influences how they relate to and think about others, and it leads to showing less gratitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, an avoidant attachment<\/a> makes negative attitudes towards others more resistant and difficult to change even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Anxious attachers<\/a> tend to be more insecure about other people\u2019s true feelings and blame themselves for any miscommunication, which can lower self-esteem [1].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t know your attachment style yet? Take our free quiz<\/a> and find out!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

#2 Give Thanks and Strengthen Your Relationship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, relationships can feel stuck in a pattern with no effective communication; we may feel underappreciated and insecure about the other person\u2019s feelings. Because of this, it is essential to let your partner know how you really feel, as expressing sincere gratitude can contribute to more open communication and trust between partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that showing gratitude to your partner can increase satisfaction in the relationship and has positive effects on commitment and connection [2].<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Relationships can sometimes increase insecurities and doubts, especially when it feels that efforts are not recognized. People who are insecure in relationships tend to have lower expectations of their partners\u2019 emotional involvement, intimacy, commitment, and love. They usually have more negative general views of their partners. Such individuals might focus on the times when a partner has not been sufficiently supportive, for example. Due to such thoughts, they tend to lack confidence in their partner\u2019s commitment. This attitude could lead to feelings of jealousy<\/a> and loneliness<\/a>. It could also cause negative behaviors (clingy, or dominating, or aimed at making the partner feel guilty) and negative expectations about the future of the relationship [1].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, it is important to show gratitude and appreciate what your partner brings to the relationship. By showing gratitude to your partner, you can let them know that their feelings are reciprocated and that what they offer is valued. Feeling gratitude and appreciation from your other half can even lower stress and anxiety. It shows that your partner values you and what you bring to the relationship, which can make you feel more worthy and competent and can soothe insecurities [3]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 Being Grateful Improves<\/strong> Mental Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Unfortunately, many people struggle with their mental health in this day and age. Anxieties about health and the state of the world have affected many of us during these uncertain times. The good news is that even small acts of gratitude can have positive effects on mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, and addiction [4,5]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grateful people tend to be happier.<\/strong> It\u2019s not necessary to do anything grand, but just the simple fact of noticing and being thankful for something good in our lives can make a difference. It can brighten our outlook on life and make us more optimistic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, there is evidence that giving thanks can mitigate depressive symptoms and improve resilience when faced with difficulties and trauma [4]. For example, new college students who were more grateful showed lower levels of stress and depression. Because of this, it is hypothesized that gratitude can make us more resilient when significant changes happen in our lives, for example, as we start university, make a career change, or move between cities [5]. Gratitude is also a staple in programs that help recovering addicts, as it makes people focus on the good things in life [6]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4 Give Thanks Regularly and Feel Your Body Thrive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Gratitude has been shown to affect the health of people with a variety of conditions. This happens mainly through its influence on stress. Gratitude acts on the stress hormone cortisol and lowers its level in the body, which has consequences for many systems, including the immune system, which can help fight illnesses [7].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gratitude has been linked to lower levels of physical pain, lower blood pressure, increased energy, and improvement in heart conditions [8,9]. In various studies of gratitude-based interventions, people reported feeling healthier and experiencing less physical pain and aches [10]. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another factor on which gratitude has a big effect is sleep. Just before we fall asleep, we have many thoughts going through our heads. Those thoughts are the ones that mostly influence sleep quality. Grateful people are more likely to have positive thoughts just before sleep, which leads to better sleep quality [11].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5 Expressing Gratitude Can Boost Your Friendships<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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As a society, we often place great importance on romantic relationships, but relationships between friends are just as important. Similar to romantic relationships, maintaining friendships requires communication and honesty. Being grateful to friends makes it more likely that you will work through problems that may arise. It also signals that you are paying attention to what your friends are doing and value their input. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we express gratitude to a friend, we feel closer to them and more invested in the friendship<\/strong> [12]. Moreover, friends who show more gratitude are also more likely to voice concerns about the relationships. They are, therefore, better able to work through issues. Giving thanks also improves our opinions of our friends, strengthening the relationship [12].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary: 25 Reasons to Give Thanks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Facilitates attachment security<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Increases positive feelings about what we have in life<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Makes us feel protected and loved<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Lowers anxiety and doubt within relationships<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Contributes to open communication in a relationship<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Makes the partner feel valued and appreciated<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Helps the partner feel more confident and secure in the relationship<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Increases satisfaction in the relationship and has positive effects on commitment and connection<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Can have positive effects on mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, and addiction<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Facilitates positive expectations of and outlook on life<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Makes us happier and more optimistic<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Prevents the worsening of depressive symptoms<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Improves resilience in the face of life changes, difficulties, and even trauma<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Essential in the process of recovery from mental health issues<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Lowers the levels of stress hormones in the body<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. Improves the function of the immune system<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. Potentially lowers blood pressure<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. Leads to feeling healthier and experiencing less physical pain and aches<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. Increases energy<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. Could improve quality of sleep <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. Might help with heart conditions <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. Leads to generally better social communication<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. Facilitates honesty and openness in social relationships<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. Improves our views and opinions of others<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. Makes it easier and more likely to resolve interpersonal conflicts<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Take-Home Message<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We have seen the multiple benefits of gratitude and how they affect many important aspects of our lives – from our relationships to mental and physical health<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember to be grateful for what you have and give thanks to the people in your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some suggestions on what you can do to practice gratitude:<\/h6>\n\n\n\n