Gratitude Practices & How They Work

I am a yoga therapist and somatic coach NOT a neuroscientist, so talking about which parts of the brain light up is not really in my scope of practice but I do occasionally suggest clients start a gratitude practice and these are the reasons why. See full reel on instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DRhI5rSjKyE/

💫Increased positive mood / positive emotions

💫potentually reduces depression and anxiety symptoms

💫small to moderate enhancement of overall mental well-being when gratitude practices are REGULARLY used

Below are some of the research papers out there. The findings are that the effects are positive but mild. I think this is important to note, it's not a quick fix, it's a doorway and a step into a place that's easier to navigate.

Key research papers on gratitude:

Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life.

Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review.

Davis, D. E., et al. (2016). Gratitude interventions: A meta-analysis (J. Counseling Psychology). — Meta-analytic summary

Kerr, S. L., O’Donovan, A., & Pepping, C. A. (2015). Can gratitude and kindness interventions enhance well-being in clinical samples?

Geraghty, A. W. A., et al. (2020). Gratitude Interventions: Effective Self-help? A meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies. — Meta-analysis finding small reductions in depression/anxiety and improvements in well-being.