How Appreciation And Gratitude Make You Feel Happier

It is easier than ever to get caught up in the stress and negativity of the world around us. Dealing with it in the real world and online can get to even those who seem the most resilient. In fact, 64% of people who use social media report feeling more stressed after scrolling through negative news and posts, according to findings in a 2020 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

It can be hard to feel happy, grateful, or even appreciative when you’re constantly comparing yourself to someone else’s highlight reel or bad situation. Not a great way to heal your brain or change your life!

The power of gratitude and appreciation goes beyond feeling good—it actively supports better brain health, emotional resilience, and a happier life.

Psychiatrist and brain health expert Dr. Daniel Amen and his wife, bestselling author Tana Amen, understand the incredible impact that gratitude can have on the brain. In The Brain Warrior's Way Course, they show you how appreciation and gratitude can be tools to boost happiness and transform your life into a more joyful one.  

HOW GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION BOOST HAPPINESS

1. Rewires Your Brain for Happiness

Did you know that actively practicing gratitude can change your brain chemistry? Depending on your brain type, gratitude can actually help balance specific neurotransmitters that regulate mood, focus, and energy. Practicing gratitude may increase calming chemicals like GABA that help reduce stress.

Neuroscientific research suggests that gratitude stimulates the brain's reward center, boosting levels of “feel-good" neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin. They are crucial for creating feelings of happiness and contentment, balancing emotional responses, and providing mental clarity for more positive long-term mental health benefits.   

Regular gratitude practice can help you find ways to boost stress resilience, allowing you to navigate challenges with a more positive outlook. This is something that Dr. Amen emphasizes in The Brain Warrior's Way course, where appreciation and gratitude are used as tools to heal your brain to fortify your mental health arsenal. 

2. Lowers Stress Levels and Promotes Calmer Moods

High levels of stress can wreak havoc on your brain and body. You may already know that increased cortisol levels make it difficult to think clearly, manage emotions, or feel happy.

Regularly practicing appreciation and gratitude has been shown to heal your brain by lowering cortisol levels significantly. That’s because chronic stress has been linked to cognitive decline, memory problems, and a host of mental health issues, such as:

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety issues
• Substance use disorders

Incorporating gratitude into your daily routine is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress and give your brain a much-needed reprieve. A 2022 study found that gratitude writing during distressing events, like the COVID pandemic, helps people cope with cognitive processing to understand what’s happening.

Writing down your thoughts frees up mental space by offloading important tasks and allowing you to feel less anxious about forgetting or neglecting something important. Giving yourself more ways to live in gratitude can maintain a calmer and more resilient brain throughout your life.

3. Enhances Relationships and Emotional Well-Being

Appreciation doesn’t just benefit your brain; it strengthens your relationships. Couples who practice gratitude toward one another report higher relationship satisfaction and feel more connected long-term, according to a 2022 study.

Expressing gratitude towards those you love improves communication, fosters deeper connections, and enhances emotional well-being. When you show appreciation for the people around you, it creates a positive feedback loop of love, inclusion, and belonging.

Social connection is important because we as human beings are hardwired for relationships. Strong relationships are closely tied to overall happiness and can give you a sense of purpose and support that you can’t always give yourself.

When you combine practicing gratitude with Dr. Amen’s other online brain health strategies, you’ll find it easier to nurture your brain and strengthen your emotional connections.

4. Improves Sleep, Nutrition, and Cognitive Function

Good sleep is essential for brain health, as it allows your brain to consolidate memories, process emotions, and repair itself. Unfortunately, too many people struggle with sleep issues due to stress, anxiety, and other health issues or life events.

You can’t always predict when something is going to happen to you that will alter your life. But you can be more mindful of how you react to it.

Here’s how gratitude can help boost not only sleep but also nutrition and cognitive function for better days ahead:

• Better sleep quality: Practicing gratitude before bed promotes relaxation, helping you fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed.
• Improved nutritional choices: Research suggests that gratitude leads to healthier eating habits and reduces negative emotions that lead to unhealthy emotional eating.
• Enhanced cognitive function: A fascinating study on gratitude in older adults found that as you age, gratitude reduces stress, balances dopamine levels, sharpens focus, improves memory, and boosts mental clarity.
• Stronger emotional regulation: By lowering cortisol levels, gratitude helps you manage emotions more effectively with self-feedback coping strategies.
• Increased energy levels: When you appreciate your life, your brain functions more efficiently with sharper cognitive function to tackle daily tasks.

By fostering a positive mindset and nourishing your body, you set the stage for optimal cognitive health and emotional well-being.

5. Slows Brain Aging

Keeping the brain sharp becomes a top priority to ensure we have a better quality of life as we age. A decline in cognitive function is a common part of the aging process. However, there are ways to slow it down and even reverse some damage. Practicing appreciation and gratitude is one of them.

Some factors that often contribute to cognitive decline as you age include feelings of loneliness, having no sense of purpose, and not treating depression and anxiety. Addressing these issues can help you feel more grateful for what you have in your life.

In Amen University’s The Brain Warrior’s Way, Dr. Amen and Tana Amen emphasize the power of appreciation and gratitude that goes beyond momentary happiness. The goal is to learn how to naturally rewire your brain for lasting joy and resilience with science-backed strategies. Don't miss out on this online brain health course—your life and your happiness are worth it!