Gratitude matters. Although it’s not always easy, sharing your gratitude — with others or even with yourself — can be powerful. There are numerous mental health benefits of practicing gratitude, and there are dozens of ways to practice. Keep scrolling to learn more and find tangible tips, tools, and tunes that’ll help turn your attitude toward gratitude.

Something I Am Grateful for Today:

Vacation! - Charles, Vermont

Live music - Jackie, Ohio

My cat - Nicole, New Jersey

Snuggling with my son - Jennifer, New York

My family - Lauren, South Carolina

Creative outlets - Jessica, California

The beach - Emily, Bahamas

better days that are soon to come - Aja, Texas

the lovely rain and how the rain shimmers - Tony, Washington

My family - Angilina, Colorado

Visits from my kids - Pam, Illinois

Upcoming 5-day weekend - Chris, Ohio

my beautiful, loving kitten, "champagne" - Anya, New York

my new friend, wade from columbia u - Anya, New York

g-d and all his goodness - Anya, New York

my cold apartment because my cat makes it bearable - Anya, New York

my memory of my grandparents and my aunt fran and uncle bill - Anya, New York

my family inviting me to thanksgiving meal - Anya, New York

friends old and new - Anya, New York

wealth and riches and affordability - Anya, New York

gratitude itself and ways to show it - Anya, New York

I’m thankful to be with my family this holiday season and everyone is doing good. - Kathleen, Ireland

comfy people, comfort foods and comfy places - Kayla, Illinois

My beautiful mother 💗 - Sydney, Florida

I am forever grateful for my family and close friends. - Jose, Hawaii

My health and having my sane mind. - Debra, Arkansas

My peer support group! - Stephanie, Iowa

Thanks for the Covid I have to stay at dormitory for - Meng, China

TMS therapy that helped my depression - Matt, Florida

the trees - Dijon, Alabama

The Love of Jesus - Matt, South Carolina

Surviving the car wreck - Peggy, Arkansas

All of my clients! - Naomi, New York

My kids - Elisa, California

My family and their love - Allie, California

My children - Elizabeth, Michigan

Tea - Kristin, South Dakota

Being part of a Latino Organizationa Meet Up In Charlotte - Laura, North Carolina

My son was accepted at basketball team - Elsie, Connecticut

My husband - Crystal, Ohio

Being able to work with scholars, and my family - Patricia, Texas

I am happy I shared various points with my team - Katya, France

A bright & sunny day- good vibes - LaLa B, Maryland

Thanksgiving Dinner with my husband - Stacy, Vermont

An insightful and meaningful conversation with a colleague, delving into topics of self-expectations, perfectionism, and self-recognition - Paula, Spain

the sledding hill down the road from our home - Sheila, Wisconsin

My sobriety - Kyle, Ohio

To have parents that love me where I can come home to a safe place and heal - Jessi, North Carolina

Great weather days - Rabia, Virginia

SHARE YOUR GRATITUDE

Expressing gratitude can be as healing for you as the recipient. Evidence shows a regular gratitude practice can boost your immune system & long-term wellbeing.

    Happiness

    A SELFISH REASON TO SAY THANKS TO SOMEONE:

    It’ll make you happier. Gratitude can help you feel more optimistic, improve self-esteem, and lower stress. It’s a reliable, no-cost pathway to feeling more positively about your life.

    Health

    GRATITUDE LITERALLY BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM… JUST IN TIME FOR COLD SEASON.

    It can also improve your sleep, lower blood pressure, and reduce symptoms of depression. And as we know, physical health and mental health are intricately related.

    Relationships

    MAGIC LOVE POTION ANYONE? OK, MAYBE NOT, BUT…

    Expressing gratitude towards others does release the love hormone oxytocin, which can increase the bond between people. Gratitude can also help you be a better friend, partner, sibling, colleague, etc.

    BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE

    Practicing gratitude makes you happier & healthier.
    Here's why #GratitudeMatters

    How To Practice
    Gratitude

    3 Ways to Have More Gratitude Every Day.
    It doesn’t have to be complicated.
    Get your thanks in — because #GratitudeMatters.

    Sometimes, it can be hard to feel thankful. Instead of conjuring your gratitude out of thin air, try reflecting on specific prompts:

     

    Source: Jed Foundation

    Is there someone in your life who deserves a thank-you? Write a letter or card expressing your gratitude for them. Then, deliver it (preferably in person). One study showed that a group of gratitude letter-writers enjoyed positive mental health effects even a month later. Plus, the recipient might appreciate it more than you know.

    Source: Mental Health America

    For a quick gratitude practice, integrate thankful thinking into your daily routine by habit stacking. Here’s how it works: Pick a habit you do each day (like brushing your teeth at night, or making a cup of coffee in the morning), and while you do it, mentally list 2-3 specific things or people you’re grateful for that day. To get started, you can leave a sticky note reminder where the habit takes place until it comes naturally. 


    Source: James Clear, Atomic Habits

    REAL TALK We know practicing gratitude can be difficult at times, especially when you're feeling down. If this is the case, start small - try it just once, or for a week. We're not promising rainbows and unicorns, but notice how your mood might change after you practice. And remember: you can be grateful and feel like your life reallyyy sucks at the same time.

    Grati-Tunes

    Let’s talk Turkey Day tunes! This November, show your thanks with some of our favorite songs all about feeling grateful. In collaboration with Universal Music Group, we’ve queued up the ultimate Thanksgiving season soundtrack.

    Open Playlist

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