Alongside well-known advice on healthy ageing, such as exercising and eating well, gratitude turns out to have a surprising effect on our well-being. Gratitude goes further than simply saying “thank you”; it is a conscious way of thinking in which you purposefully focus your attention on the positive things in your life. This can be loving relationships, for example, but also small, pleasant experiences.
Recent research involving tens of thousands of older women shows that people who regularly feel gratitude have a lower risk of dying prematurely. This includes a lower frequency of dying from heart disease. Other studies show that gratitude has a beneficial effect on blood pressure and lowers inflammation levels in the body. Inflammation plays a role in the ageing process and diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Sleep quality also improves in people who are grateful. They fall asleep faster and feel more rested the next day. This is important because sleep helps the body recover and keeps it young. In addition, gratitude strengthens social relationships, which in turn contributes to a longer and healthier life.
The explanation for these benefits probably lies in how gratitude reduces stress. Chronic stress is harmful to the body, but gratitude stimulates the relaxing, restorative part of our nervous system. As a result, the body can cope better with problems and ageing.
Gratitude is simple to practise and costs nothing, yet it can do a great deal for body and mind. That is why it is a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle.
Source: Buck Institute
