The art of being grateful is so fascinating that if we practice it on a daily basis, it could change us in a positive manner and makes us better human being.

It teaches us the value of others and the overall importance of our wellbeing. Gratefulness takes us to the path of optimism and happiness and makes us more content and less reactive towards negative people.

It connects us with other kind-hearted people to strengthen our relationships in a positive way. Because of gratitude, the bond between two people increases, hatred among the people decreases and makes us more caring.

Being grateful can provide many benefits to overall well-being, which can help promote a happier version of YOU. Having gratitude is also a fundamental part of putting the law of attraction in motion. You attract what you want by being grateful for what you have today.

So, here are the 5 benefits of practising gratitude:

1. It can give you an overall sense of well-being

   A conscious focus on blessings may have emotional and interpersonal benefits.

   No doubt, there's clearly an overall sense of wellbeing by practising gratitude. Having such kind of habit creates a better version of YOU and shapes you in such a way that it improves your well-being.

   So, how can you express thanks for everyday things?

   One, practice “interior gratitude.” Keep a daily or weekly list of the things you are grateful for. For example, I might write: I am grateful that I have a job that I love and that through my job as a therapist in Santa Monica I get to help people.

   Two, practice “exterior gratitude.” Write thank-you notes and express your gratitude to others on paper. For example, you could write a thank-you email to your best friend to support you through a bad breakup.

   And three, “be grateful for useless things.” In other words, express thanks for the everyday stuff you usually overlook such as fresh fruit and air conditioning.

2. It makes us happier

   Gratitude and happiness go hand in hand because being grateful for the good things in life helps you avoid dwelling on the bad stuff.

   If you consider it seriously, you would find that it is our ability to be “useful” to ourselves and others that make us happy. You do any act that is useful to others and you would consistently feel happiness.

   What hooks people are the sense of “affinity” and all actions of gratitude generate affinity between and among people that results in bonds of friendship, cooperation and collaboration.

   Besides all these, actions of gratitude produce positive chemicals in brains such as Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins. They invariably contain ingredients of happiness and bonding.

   Choosing to be thankful may well be an effortless and convenient way to boost your happiness.

   It’s about how good you feel and also how pleased you are with your life.

   In 2018 and 2019, Finland ranked No. 1 in The United Nation’s (UN) World Happiness Report.

   Scandinavians themselves are determining their levels of happiness. It’s obviously pretty high. They are appreciative of an active society in which they have economic security and in which social institutions support everyone, not just a few. Yet, there is something else. The Swedes use the word “Lagom,” to describe a kind of moderation, a just enough-ness they value.

   They don’t hunt for happiness or work overtime for months at a time. By and large, they are accepting and content. They remain grateful for a healthy work-life balance, take breaks during the workday, and have a high standard of living. They also have low corruption and a high level of social trust.

   As a result of this satisfaction and contentment, they feel their lives have value. They have less pressure, less stress, and more time for what they enjoy.

   One 1993 study revealed another way to boost happiness even when you’re not feeling happy. Researchers found that both voluntary and involuntary smiling had the same effect on brain activity. You can convince your brain and body that you’re happy even when you’re not just by forcing yourself to smile. “Acting happy, regardless of feelings, coaxes one’s brain into processing positive emotions,” explains Brooks. In other words, “fake it ‘til you make it” works.

3. It improves our relationships

   Expressing gratitude shows you care. You value other people even if they're not expressing gratitude as same as you do. It acknowledges a good deed by the other person. It reciprocates the kindness shared and felt in your relationship.

   Expressing gratitude celebrates the positivity in your relationship, bringing both sides closer together. It makes us feel happy, satisfied, and paves the way for future acts of kindness in the relationship.

4. It reduces negative thought patterns

   Negative thinking can contribute to problems such as social anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. The key to changing your negative thoughts is to understand how you think now (and the problems that result), then use strategies to change these thoughts or make them have less of an effect.

   One study found that people who engaged in a mindfulness practice experienced fewer negative thoughts after exposure to negative imagery, suggesting that mindfulness may lessen the impact of negative thinking.

5. It has physical and mental benefits

   Having less stress, anxiety, and depression can benefit your physical and mental health in many positive ways.

   1. According to Dr Robert Emmons, gratitude is an affirmation of goodness and a recognition that these sources of goodness exist outside of us.

   2. Various studies have proven there are physical benefits to expressing gratitude on a daily basis, some of which include positive interactions in the brain in the areas that control decision-making, metabolism, and hormone-regulating.

   3. Other studies have confirmed gratitude is beneficial for our mental health, even during a time of crisis.

   4. Later, in 2009, researchers realized that these higher levels of activity in the hypothalamus had a huge influence on metabolism and stress levels. This means that gratitude could have such wide-reaching positive effects that you begin to eat better and sleep more, which could ultimately lead to decreased depression and better physical health.

      By this, we've learned how and why practising gratitude helps you become a better person in life and your overall sense of well-being.

      So, practice gratitude to spread kindness, love and optimism and makes this world a better place to live.