What prompted me to look into being grateful a bit deeper.
One of my best friends embarked on a new journey last year. She decided to develop a new product that she wanted to sell online. She put a great deal of thought into it and created a full product range. One of these is a 90-day Gratitude Journal, designed to help people sit down each day and reflect on what they are grateful for.
I truly want her to succeed, so I joined the project and began researching the theme and come up with content ideas — such as what kind of reels could introduce her product range and how to make it visible to a wider audience.
As I started researching, I was surprised to discover that there is actual neuroscientific research showing how our brains are rewired when we take time to practice gratitude daily — even for the smallest things in our lives.
Neuroscientific research on gratitude shows that:
- Gratitude activates brain regions associated with reward, enhancing feelings of contentment and emotional well-being.
- Regular gratitude practice can lead to long-term positive changes in the brain, supporting mental health and resilience.
- Simple exercises, such as keeping a gratitude journal, can improve mood, increase empathy, and strengthen social bonds.*
*You can read more about the neuroscience of gratitude in the article The Neuroscience of Gratitude & Its Effects on the Brain
Interesting research findings
- Studies examining specific brain regions found that individuals who experience higher levels of gratitude have increased gray matter volume.
- Gratitude can change neural structures in the brain, making individuals feel happier and more content.
- Brain activity and hormone release occur when people express gratitude for well-being or hear stories of compassion related to emotional pain.
This is only a small glimpse of how gratitude can influence the brain — effects that are already supported by scientific research.
An article from Harvard Medical School states:
“Recent research has pointed to gratitude’s many positive health effects, including greater emotional and social well-being, better sleep quality, lower depression risks, and favourable markers of cardiovascular health.”
The same article suggests six questions to help begin a gratitude journey:
Try this: Six questions to evoke gratitude
Not feeling especially grateful today? You have the power to change that. Asking yourself certain questions can evoke gratitude, such as:
- What happened today that was good?
- What am I taking for granted that I can be thankful for?
- Which people in my life am I grateful for?
- What is the last book I read, movie or show I watched, or social media clip I saw that I really appreciated — and why?
- What am I most looking forward to this week, month, or year — and why?
- What is the kindest thing someone has said or done lately?
Full article here:
Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives – Harvard Health
Next steps for me
I honestly didn’t expect gratitude to have such a strong influence on the brain. I always thought of it as more of a mindfulness practice — something I really like but rarely find the time to practice consistently. However, after reading several research articles and watching TED Talks on the topic, I’ve decided to give it a try. Hopefully, in 30 days, I’ll be able to share the changes I experience.
The key with a gratitude journal is consistency — you have to keep going. I received a sample journal from my friend, which gives me structure. Without that, I would likely abandon the project after one or two weeks. For me, it’s much harder to sit down with an empty notebook and know where to begin.
If you’re interested, I highly recommend the following TED Talk — I found it very inspiring:
https://youtu.be/e8HH4XHbEkk
I’m grateful to you for taking the time to read my blog. What are you grateful for today?
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