Count Your Blessings… More Often

Yes, it is Thanksgiving and we are ready to deliver our little speech at dinner table. But are they just meaningless words that were put together nicely or do we really feel blessed for all those good deeds?

According to well-being researches, the regular practice of gratitude is strongly associated with happiness and life satisfaction. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” and it seems that happiness contributes to mental health.

Positive Psychology is the branch of psychology that studies “the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive[1].” Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, developed the Well-Being theory which states that personal well-being is composed of five elements: positive emotions, engagement, meaning, positive relationships, and accomplishment. Happiness evidently contributes to positive feelings.

Interestingly enough, the factors that seem to be strongly correlated to happiness and life satisfaction are not exactly the same things most of us tend to pursuit in life. Happiness studies point out that gratitude, optimism and self-esteem have a greater impact in one’s happiness than income level, education or physical attractiveness. Maybe this explains why so many people seem to be so dissatisfied nowadays.

Practicing gratitude on a regular basis seems to increase happiness and life satisfaction, strengthen relationships with others, lead to peace of mind, and even improve physical health. This is because gratitude shifts your focus to the positive aspects of your life, builds positive relationships, gives meaning to one’s life, and creates a sense of accomplishment, all of which are components of the Well-Being theory.

However, to be valid, gratitude has to come from within. Sitting at the Thanksgiving table and blabbing words without feeling them, doesn’t count. To improve feelings of gratitude, positive psychologists suggest a few exercises. Write a letter of gratitude to someone you never thanked properly. Then deliver the letter personally and allow this person to read it, noticing his/her reactions. You can also start a gratitude journal in which you daily record three things that went well in your day. And of course, say “thank you” more often.

Thank you for reading this article!

References

Seligman, M. Flourish. New York: Free Press. 2011.

Peterson, C. A Primer in Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. 2006