Unlocking the Secret Power of Gratitude: How Appreciation Rewires Your Brain and Transforms Your Life
Micheal Preble, March 21, 2023
Gratitude is like a secret power. Most people want more in life, even if they don’t say it out loud. Wanting more isn’t because we’re greedy or bad; it’s just part of being human. Life offers chances for us to have more, and we naturally desire it. The key is to appreciate what we already have, which opens the door for even greater things.
One mistake could prevent us from getting what we want. If we don’t practice gratitude, we might miss out on the opportunities that come our way. As a culture, we could be better at showing appreciation. If this is true, we’re all in trouble.
In the book “The Gratitude Diaries” by Janice Kaplan, the author shares some statistics on how grateful people in our country are. Most of us know we should be grateful, but something holds us back. A survey funded by the John Templeton Foundation showed that 94% of Americans believed grateful people are happier and more successful. However, less than half of the people surveyed said they regularly show gratitude.
Gratitude isn’t something we’re naturally good at. Think about it — which of these statements are you more likely to say?
- My computer is working great today! vs. My laptop crashed, and I lost all my work!
- I appreciate my coworkers’ support! vs. My coworkers are so hard to deal with.
- I’m enjoying the beautiful weather! vs. The weather outside is terrible.
- I’m grateful for my comfortable home! vs. The electricity went out in my house!
- I had a fantastic meal today. vs. I ate something that didn’t agree with me.
If you have nine good things and one bad thing happen daily, you’ll probably talk about the wrong thing with your friends. We tend to focus on negative things because of how our minds work and the influence of our culture. This negativity can hurt our happiness and well-being.
This happens because of two things: selective attention and confirmation bias. Particular attention is when we focus on specific items and ignore others. People who think about negative things are likelier to notice them. So, if someone believes they always get stuck at red traffic lights, they’ll keep seeing them and forget about the green ones.
Confirmation bias adds to this problem. If someone thinks they always get red lights, they’ll unconsciously look for evidence to prove it and ignore any evidence against it, like the green lights they see. It’s when we look for, understand, and remember information that supports our beliefs.
By understanding how our minds work, we can focus on the positive things in life. Being more balanced by recognizing and appreciating good things and acknowledging the bad can make us happier and healthier.
Gratitude is crucial. When people are grateful for what they have, they have more positive experiences and a better overall quality of life.
Not being grateful can keep us from getting more in life. If you’re ungrateful to others, they might stop helping you. For example, if you don’t thank your spouse for cleaning the house, they might stop doing it. Your following review might not go well if you don’t thank your boss for a raise.
If you’re ungrateful, don’t be surprised if good things stop happening. That’s just how it works.
If you want more, be grateful for what you already have. Being grateful can change the way you think. It also has excellent health benefits. In a Psychology Today article called “The Grateful Brain: The Neuroscience of Giving Thanks,” Alex Korb explains that studies show young adults who kept gratitude journals had more determination, attention, enthusiasm, and energy. Keeping a gratitude journal also improved exercise habits.
References:
Derryberry, D., & Reed, M. A. (2002). Anxiety-related attentional biases and their regulation by attentional control. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 111(2), 225–236.
Nickerson, R. S. (1998). Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises. Review of General Psychology, 2(2), 175–220.
Hey there, you cool cats! 😸
Just a quick heads-up: This article was crafted with a li’l help from my AI buddy, ChatGPT. We teamed up like PB&J, but I made sure my prompts were super detailed. 😉
Happy reading! 📖✌️
