The Benefits of Being Grateful

Most of us grew up hearing some version of the same advice: appreciate what you've got, and don't let the bad stuff take over your thinking. That advice holds up. People who make a habit of gratitude tend to report more satisfying lives and better physical health. Researchers have compared the chronically thankful with the chronically negative, and the grateful group came out ahead on happiness, well-being, and even their odds of doing well in life.

During rough stretches gratitude is exactly what slips away first. One way to keep it close is to write it down. Spend a couple of minutes a day noting whatever you happen to feel thankful for, and when your memory goes blank on the subject, go back and read the list.

There's a feedback loop at play here. When you notice the good things, you tend to draw more of them in, which gives you still more to appreciate. Picture how a genuinely good mood carries you through a day: a few small annoyances show up and they barely register. Gratitude does something close to that, keeping your baseline steady.

It also changes how other people respond to you. Think of someone in your life who has plenty going for them and still complains nonstop. Do you seek that person out? Probably not, because nobody wants that dragging down their afternoon. Turn your own attention toward the good, and the people around you warm up to you. You might even rub off on a chronic complainer or two.

Problem solving gets easier, as well. Dwelling on the negative fogs your thinking and makes any obstacle look bigger than it is. A clearer, more positive head gives you room to actually find solutions. Say your hours get cut at work and the paycheck shrinks. Fixating on the loss gets you nowhere, but reminding yourself you still have a job frees you up to sit down and build a smarter budget.

Negativity is always around. That doesn't obligate you to swallow it. When something goes wrong, look for whatever upside exists. Get passed over for a promotion, and instead of stewing, ask what you can sharpen so the next one lands. Handle it that way and the setback turns into fuel for later wins.

Learning comes more easily to grateful people too. A calmer, more open mind takes on new challenges and finishes what it starts. People in this frame of mind can spot what's valuable even in opportunities that fall through, which tends to set them up for better ones down the road.

Anyone can stand to do a little more of this, and with some deliberate effort the positive outlook starts to feel automatic. The moments that test you are the ones that matter most: losing a job, or any other serious blow. Reach for what you're grateful for in those moments, and the storm gets a little easier to ride out.

Sources: Randy Kamen Gredinger's piece for the Huffington Post on the transformative power of gratitude, and the Chopra Center's material on cultivating the healing power of gratitude.