Gratitude is the feeling of happiness and pleasure that can be felt when thanking someone or something, leading to the release of hormones responsible for the immediate feeling of well-being.
When we thank for something or value small things in our daily lives, there is the activation of a region of the brain known as the reward system, with the release of dopamine and oxytocin, which is a hormone responsible for the feeling of well-being and happiness. Thus, when we feel grateful for something, we immediately have an increased feeling of pleasure and, consequently, a decrease in negative thoughts. Learn more about the effects of oxytocin on the body.
Gratitude must be practiced daily, making it a habit, because that way you can have a lighter and happier life.
The power of gratitude
Gratitude has several health benefits, such as:
- Improves the feeling of well-being and pleasure; Increases self-esteem; Decreases stress and negative feelings, such as anger, anguish and fear, for example; Improves the immune system; Decreases blood pressure; Increases the feeling of generosity and compassion.
Gratitude can be interpreted as a state of mind, in which the person recognizes the small conquests of the day to day and starts to value them.
How to Increase Gratitude
The feeling of gratitude can be stimulated by small daily attitudes, such as waking up with positive thoughts, for example, and at the end of the day reflecting on the achievements.
It is also important to focus on thinking in the now and to condition happiness to specific thoughts, which leads to positive thoughts about life in general.
Thanking for small things and doing something for other people also stimulates the feeling of gratitude, well-being and pleasure.
