Assisted Living: The emotional benefits of being thankful
by Yorkshire VillageAre you looking for simple ways to live better? Consider adopting a practice of gratitude in your everyday life; it costs nothing, and anyone can do it. Best of all, being thankful has many potential benefits to offer, making it an easy and accessible way to improve your life.
As an assisted living community in Hemet CA, Yorkshire Village recognizes that sometimes, it’s the little things in life that can make the biggest difference. Keep reading to learn more about the emotional benefits of being thankful.
Improved Self-esteem and Self-worth
Being grateful is associated with higher self esteem and can improve your sense of self-worth. A 2014 study from the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology measured gratitude in athletes and found that it increased their self-esteem, leading to better performance. Another study found that gratitude not only increased self-esteem in college students, but also lowered depression and suicidal ideation. Gratitude can improve your self-worth as well, by limiting comparisons with others.
Increased Empathy
A 2012 study by the University of Kentucky found that higher gratitude levels are associated with more empathy, sensitivity, and kindness towards others, while also reducing aggression. Not only is this positive for your own mental health, but it opens more doors in life and leads to stronger relationships. Simply thanking an acquaintance can be enough to improve your social bond.
Reduces Negative Emotions
It’s undeniable that practicing gratitude can have many positive effects on your mental health. Research shows that it increases happiness and reduces emotions like sadness, anger, aggression, jealousy, and regret. By getting into the habit of being appreciative, you’re training your brain to focus less on negative aspects of your life. This leads to a more positive mindset overall, which is associated with better health and well-being.
How to Practice Gratitude
With regular practice, being thankful is scientifically proven to have lasting effects on the brain, including better mental health and enhanced well-being. The easiest way to pick up this habit in your daily life is to start keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, write down at least one thing that you’re thankful of in your journal. Another common practice is to write gratitude letters – you don’t even have to share them to experience the positive effects.
Yorkshire Village is a beautiful and affordable memory care and assisted living community in the Southern California. To learn more about our person-centered approach to elder care, click here to contact us today .
Links
http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/57314/
https://psychology.as.uky.edu/gratitude-antidote-aggression
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain