Gratitude Goes a Long Way

Gratitude means taking what you have and making it enough.

By pausing that extra second to appreciate the things we hold most dear — family, friends, our health, that morning cup of coffee, we can improve our own well-being and influence the lives of others.

And this impact can span from the psychological to the physical.

Research suggests that embracing gratitude leads to a greater likelihood of engaging in healthy behaviors, increased happiness and life satisfaction, decreased materialism, and improved social relationships. One study found that when cardiac patients were assigned to write about things for which they were grateful each day for eight weeks, they reported better sleep, less fatigue, and lower levels of cellular inflammation than the control. In qualitative research, gratitude is often cited as the “mother of all virtues,” proceeding the development of other positive traits like patience, humility, and wisdom.

And while these characteristics are developed internally, they manifest themselves outwardly in our day-to-day interactions with others, leading to forms of generous, kind, and prosocial behavior.

This Monday, give some gratitude and share our Gratitude Goes a Long Way GIF with your friends and social network, because we all benefit when we appreciate.

To get yourself in the mood for gratitude, follow along with this guided meditation from Deborah Ndao, former Director of Wellness at Columbia University’s Office of Work/Life.