This is a download from BBC Learning English.
To find out more, visit our website.
Take Away English from BBC Learning English.
Gratitude is more than just saying 'thank you' to someone who has helped us or given us a gift.
Gratitude is a deeper appreciation for someone or something that makes us feel a positive emotion.
And this positive emotion can be good for our health — our emotional and physical health, as well as the health of our relationships.
Let's start by looking at the emotional or mental health benefits of expressing gratitude.
There have been many studies, as described in a 2018 paper from the Greater Good Science Center titled 'The Science of Gratitude', showing that writing a gratitude letter to another person or writing in a gratitude journal, if done regularly, improves mental health.
One reason for this, is that gratitude stops us from ruminating on toxic, negative emotions, and writing a 'thank you' letter, for example, shifts our attention so that we focus on positive emotions.
But even if we don't share our writing with anyone, like in a journal, the act of completing the exercise alone makes us happier and more satisfied with life.