3 Reasons Why Gratitude Can Make For a Better Life

Here you are, stuck in your head with negative thoughts spinning around and around like, “I am not good enough”, “there is not time in my day to get it all done”, or ” why can’t I be more like…”

This downward spiral easily continues with more destructive self-talk such as “I’m just worthless”, “I can’t do anything right”, and whatever else you might sling at yourself, either consciously or unconsciously.

The truth is, this happens to nearly every one of us, and it quickly takes us down a rabbit hole of doom and gloom. In 60 seconds flat, you can go from “eh, it’s a little hard” to “everything in my life is terrible, and there’s no way out!”

What Is One To Do?

You can either dig into the idea that things go horribly wrong in your life, or you can try to shift into the possibility of positivity. The choice is yours.

How Gratitude Can Help

Gratitude is a vibrational energy that carries a frequency your body can leverage when instructed.

As a trauma survivor, I know well how this vicious cycle happens. One notion, a simple word, or even an ‘innocent’ conversation, and you’re on the ground hating life, or disgusted with yourself. That can be more than fleeting, and you may not even recognise that you’re triggered, upset, or just blown out altogether.

Before you know it, it has spun out of control, and the issue is running the show behind the scenes. You are no longer in the driver’s seat of your own thoughts and beliefs, and have just spent the last 5 years angry, overwhelmed, or just out of sorts.

Bringing in gratitude can break this pattern in only minutes. A thought of a special person you appreciate starts working in that instant. A fleeting moment of genuine gratitude for your home, family, or fur baby can stop negative thoughts dead in their tracks. Yep, it’s that simple. Go ahead and try it. Think ofjust one thing you are grateful for, right now. How does that feel in your body?

Consider going for the gold and try something else. See what happens. Because before long, you’re on the train of happiness, and “life is feeling pretty good about now!”

How Gratitude Shifts Your Circumstance

What is happening physiologically that allows for this visceral transformation? First off, gratitude changes your brain. It rewires your neurons! Isn’t that cool?! Second, the act of simple appreciation exponentially increases your emotional well-being. Last, thoughts of gratitude can even help you feel healthier in your body, inviting your own vitality and longevity to the party.

All of that from just being thankful for what you already have!

Reason 1: How Gratitude Changes Your Brain;

Positive thinking can make new neural pathways. It’s true! Our miraculous brains have the uncanny ability, with time, to shift and change as needed. That is called neuroplasticity. More specifically, the ability to fortify new neural circuits to take form in your brain. It happens with consistent habits that reinforce optimism and reaffirm constructive behaviours. Even neater is that these fresh positive paths can neutralise the old negative ones currently taking up space.

The September 2025 issue of Psychology Today highlights that “Gratitude and optimism strengthen neural pathways linked to emotional resilience and how “positive thinking can boost dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels”.

That right there can change your life and how you process and regulate your emotions. Some say that miracles can happen when you start to look for the good in things. I agree, and also say that your hormones start to regulate, digestion appears to smooth out, and immunity begins to cooperate – when you gratefully appreciate.

Reason 2: Why Simple Appreciation Increases Your Emotional Well-Being;

It literally feels better, in every cell of your body, to be grateful. One little thing, or a slightly altered perception. It will lead you to the next minute thought and then the next. All of a sudden, you may be smiling, even laughing. The truth is that appreciation appreciates.

Gratitude is a free remedy that you can use anytime, anywhere, and for anything you might need it for.

Now, what could happen if you feel a little better, at your core? Might your ideas come a bit faster and leave you with a streak of creativity? Would it be possible to experience more agility as inflammation reduces? What if you are only sick for 2 days instead of 2 weeks, or you miss the cold altogether? Your hormones feel balanced, and menopause is smooth. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea that a grateful practice increases your emotional well-being and resilience. Thereby, your stress response and nervous system are supported. Really, what could you do then?

Reason 3: Ways Gratitude Can Help You Feel Healthier;

Where authentic vitality and longevity come into play.

I already mentioned how gratitude can increase your immunity. But ‘feeling healthy’ is so much more than that. We are on this earth for a while, and if you’re anything like me, you want to feel good in your skin for as long as you can. That is for both your physical and mental health. A regular gratitude practice can fit this bill perfectly. Not only does it raise those feel-good chemicals I mentioned above, but it also lowers the damaging stress-inducing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

Now you might sleep more soundly. Maybe you aren’t feeling quite as depressed as you have been in the past. Your blood pressure could be more on target, and your overall life starts to feel a little better, or may even last longer!

Living In Gratitude;

Did you know how powerful gratitude can be? Do you leverage this in your own life? If not, might you be willing to make some changes in your perception of appreciation?

You see, it’s free will that allows you to create something new in your own lived experience whenever you want. Neuroplasticity rewires your brain to increase emotional resilience and overall well-being. Undoubtedly helping you to feel happier and healthier for longer.

More Resources for You;

If you would like to know more information about how to start or enhance your own practice of gratitude,
please read my blog for Three Easy Steps You Can Take to Support a Strong Gratitude Practice of Your Own

Also, check out this beautiful song by the Copper Wimmin on YouTube. It is called Kinder. And will
surely encourage your palate for appreciation.

Do Grateful People Live Longer

Gratitude Enhances Health

Photo by Atlantic Ambience