{"id":5233,"date":"2021-06-02T02:25:18","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T02:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abundancenolimits.com\/?p=5233"},"modified":"2023-03-12T23:05:33","modified_gmt":"2023-03-12T23:05:33","slug":"effects-of-gratitude-on-the-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abundancenolimits.com\/effects-of-gratitude-on-the-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"The Effects of Gratitude on the Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Gratitude is gaining prominence and receiving rave reviews for its countless benefits. This powerful emotion when translated into meaningful gestures can benefit the giver as well as the recipient. <\/p>\n

This leads us to the questions. How does gratitude work? Does Gratitude Change the Brain? How Gratitude Affects the Brain? <\/i><\/p>\n

This article explores how expressions of gratitude work their magic on you and the people you care for.<\/p>\n

How does gratitude work?<\/h2>\n

Gratitude when practiced in any of its myriad forms is associated with happiness and contentment. This is true whether we are giving it or at the receiving end. That is in fact the beauty of gratitude. It is beneficial to everyone involved. <\/p>\n

The link between gratitude and happiness is manifold. Expressing gratitude triggers positive emotions – happiness<\/a> being the most prominent among them. The other emotions include optimism, self-esteem, empathy<\/a>, selflessness, and spirituality. And, all these roads lead to pure joy. <\/p>\n

Gratitude is not meant to be practiced only on people around us. It can work its miracle when directed at ourselves as well. We can always use more kindness, forgiveness, and understanding from ourselves, making our lives easier and more tolerable. <\/p>\n

The flow of positive emotions as a result of practicing gratitude can lead to many good things in life. Such as improved health, stronger relationships, and increased productivity. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How does gratitude affect the brain?<\/h2>

The connection of gratitude with the brain has been proved beyond doubt in several clinical studies.\u00a0<\/p>

The moral judgments associated with the feelings of gratitude are dealt with in the right anterior temporal cortex, the part of the brain linked to creating and preserving long-term memory by absorbing visual and verbal information.\u00a0<\/p>

People who experience the emotions of gratitude are found to have a higher volume of grey matter in the right inferior temporal gyrus. The neurochemical variations at the Central Nervous System account for the existence of gratitude in some of us and not in others.<\/p>

Gratitude can produce feelings of sheer joy and contentment. At a physiological level, this can be explained as the release of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. These are the two neurotransmitters responsible for the \u201cfeel good\u201d emotion.\u00a0<\/p>

The presence of these neurotransmitters in our system makes us feel happy and enhances our mood. This turn of events has multiple consequences like reduction of fear and anxiety by the regulation of the stress hormone and encouraging restructuring of our basic knowledge through positive thinking.\u00a0<\/p>

The daily practice of gratitude<\/a> creates new neural pathways to positive emotions like happiness and satisfaction. Conscious and regular practice of gratitude can strengthen these neural pathways and create a permanent positive and thankful behavior pattern in us.\u00a0<\/p>

Some of the common impacts of gratitude on body functions and psychological conditions are:<\/p>