From USA Today: Gratitude has been shown to have both physical and mental health benefits. Here are a few ways to cultivate our feelings of gratitude and express appreciation more often.
“‘Research suggests that individuals who feel grateful experience lower blood pressure, improved immune functions, recover more quickly from illness, and can more effectively cope with stress,’ explains Shilagh Mirgain, PhD, a health psychologist with UW Health (University of Wisconsin).
‘Gratitude has one of the strongest links to mental health, more so than even optimism.’ And the benefits can be life-long. A sense of gratitude can reduce the lifetime risk for depression, anxiety and even substance abuse disorders.”
