EP27: Gratitude Can Change Your Brain

Practicing gratitude is something so simple yet so powerful and impactful to our overall health and wellbeing. UCLAs Mindfulness Awareness Research Center proved that gratitude changes our brain, specifically the gray matter of our brain. The gray matter is made up of the cell bodies of nerve cells which functions as an information processor. When the gray matter is able to process thoughts such as gratitude, it leads to a healthier and happier brain. More so, Chinese researchers found that high levels of gratitude were associated with better sleep and lower levels of anxiety and depression. A study at the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley revealed that people who wrote their gratitude letters have a higher active function in their prefrontal cortex as shown in their brain scans.
One of the best tools we can use for our overall health is a gratitude practice. This practice is something that could help us potentially heal and become the healthiest version of ourselves. When we say healing, it is not just healing our physical selves but also acknowledging other areas of our mind, body and soul.