I did the research for 26 Extreme Benefits Of Gratitude over a few weeks and the results are mind-blowing!
If you rather want to jump straight to the 26 Extreme Benefits Of Gratitude you can click here. But, I will appreciate it if you don’t and read the entire article.
Although my research is from medical and psychology articles, I’m sure you will agree with me that we serve an awesome God!
The Creator God created us to have an attitude of gratitude to be blessed in our health, personality, socially, careers, spiritually, and emotionally.
I had the privilege to attend a conference of Dr.Caroline Leaf a neuroscientist when she was in South Africa.
She explained our brains looked like the branches of a dead tree. Science has the term ‘plasticity’ which means the brain and cells of our body can renew themselves.
She worked with patients who experienced severe trauma from accidents or crime and were able to help them on the road to recovery where they recovered with little or no side effects afterward.
A dear friend of mine told me a while ago that when we are happy the cells in our body are also happy, when we are sad the cells are sad and can become sick.
I asked her to send the link to me and when she did, I realized the term they used is ‘plasticity’, and this term is not only applicable to our brains but to every cell in our bodies.
Science confirms what Paul tells us about our thoughts.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
Paul also gives us guidance on how to guard ourselves against negative thoughts
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
When we have a negative mindset our brain stems and the cells in our body become weak and will eventually die, resulting in severe physical and emotional health issues.
By focussing on positive things and being grateful our brains and the cells in our body can become healthier, resulting in improved overall health, both physical and emotional.
By being thankful our brains will be like green leafy fruit trees.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such, there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
What I realized during my research is that people who formed a new habit of keeping a gratitude journal will naturally possess the fruit of the Spirit.
God created us to be thankful, grateful, and appreciative toward Him. When we have an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness we give glory to God, and we will love God in a way that pleases His Father’s heart.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
When we worship God we enter into His presence with thankfulness
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
Psalm 100:4
May you hear clearly the voice of the Holy Spirit minister to you while reading through the benefits of gratitude.
26 Extreme Benefits Of Gratitude
1. Our faith will be stronger
By having a mindset of gratitude our doubts will decrease allowing our faith to bloom.
2. Our health will improve
The chances are bigger for us to benefit from better physical and psychological health when we have a grateful mindset.
3. Our love life will improve
When we are grateful, we will express our gratitude to our partners which will boost our relationships to a whole new level. Not only will we be content but be able to help others to feel good about themselves as well.
4. Our psychological well-being will be healthier
One of the long-term consequences of an attitude of gratitude is that we will have healthier self-esteem, and decreased feelings of helplessness and depression.
5. Our recovery will be smoother
Our recovery road to vibrant health will be quite a smooth road, and most of the bumps in the road will be canceled out by being grateful with a positive outlook on life. People that implement a new habit of gratitude journaling recovered a lot sooner from depression, surgery, and substance abuse, to just mention a few examples.
6. Our sleep quality will improve
Being grateful has the effect of less stress, which will lead to increased sleep quality. No more counting sheep before going to sleep, instead count your blessings!
7. We will be happier
People who keep a gratitude journal for as little as 5 minutes daily, experience being more content and happier in the long run. By doing this we shift our focus from negativity to positivity, being more grateful for what we have instead of what we don’t have.
8. We will be less dependent on others
Gratitude will help us to realize we don’t feel the need to be emotionally dependent on others, helping us to recover much quicker from difficult emotional turmoil than in the past.
9. We will experience less hopelessness
People with an attitude of gratitude have reduced feelings of hopelessness leading to depression, poor coping skills, and in extreme cases suicide.
10. We will have a better self-esteem
An attitude of gratitude will help us feel more content with our circumstances, resulting in better self-esteem and overall fulfillment.
11. We will have better coping skills
Being more appreciative and grateful will help to improve our coping skills, helping us not to let the external storms of life become our internal storms. We will be a lot less affected by the negative emotions of others than when we are not in a positive state of mind.
12. We will have a positive outlook on negative things
An attitude of gratitude keeps the green monster’s jealousy away! When we practice gratitude we are not alone more positive, content and resilient, but will experience less jealousy toward others for what we don’t have.
13. We will have increased hopefulness
Keeping a gratitude journal will help us to realize how much more we have to be grateful for than when we started. Our positivity and optimism will grow with a renewed sense of hope as result.
14. We will have increased popularity
People are attracted to those who are happy, friendly, and appreciative. We will gain more friends and have improved relationships and problem-solving skills.
15. We will have increased patience
By being more grateful we will also learn to trust God more with things that are outside our control which will help us not internalize stressful situations.
16. We will have stronger friendships
When we have an attitude of gratitude and express our gratitude toward them will make our friendships stronger.
17. We will be able to persevere
By being grateful and appreciative our chances will be better to persevere in difficult situations than when we are in a negative state of mind. Never be able to form a new habit or stick to a new routine? Diet, fitness program, spending time with God? Start by keeping a gratitude journal and you will soon realize you will be able to form other positive habits as well.
18. We will be more generous
Gratitude helps us to shift our focus from ourselves to others, creating in us the need to help others when we have the ability to do so. We will be less selfish and self-centered than before.
19. We will be more positive
By learning to look for the silver lining in the dark clouds we will experience an overall improvement in optimism, hope, and joy.
20. We will be more spontaneous in our worship
It’s almost impossible to worship God from the heart when our tanks are running on empty. When we are grateful and thankful toward God it creates an atmosphere for spontaneous worship.
21. We will be respected
People tend to show respect toward those who have a positive outlook with improved relationships- and social skills. In a nutshell, we will treat others the way we want to be treated.
22. We will experience work satisfaction
When we are grateful we are more likely to experience being satisfied and have a sense of accomplishment in our work and daily tasks, leading a purpose-driven life.
23. We will function more effectively
Positivity will help to increase our functionality in our daily tasks by not putting things off that in the past seems too big a mountain to climb. We will be able to complete tasks sooner and easier helping us to be more effective in everything we do.
24. We will not be as materialistic as before
When we are grateful and appreciative for what we have we will be happier and more content in life, not wanting more material things that cannot truly give us joy.
25. We will not be depressed
When we are in the habit of keeping a gratitude journal we will be less depressed by helping us to think positive thoughts.
26. We won’t have high blood pressure
When we are grateful our overall heart health will improve with normal blood pressure as a result.
Look how beautifully the above image of The Tree Of Mental Health confirms the benefits of gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation.
In case you missed my article 31 Scriptures On Gratitude is to show you from God’s Word why it pleases His Father’s heart when we have an attitude of gratitude, you can read it here.
It is my prayer you were blessed by this article, and if you’re not already in a habit of being grateful or keeping a gratitude journal be encouraged to do so.
Please share this article on social media, to equip others with these truths on gratitude.
Everything in Him, unto Him, and to glorify His Holy Name!
This article was proofread by Grammarly.
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