The Science of Gratitude

How and Why Does Gratitude Work?

Gratitude is an easy and effective way of retraining your brain.

If you focus on the good, soon you will see more, enjoy more, appreciate more.
Here are some quick facts about the benefits of practicing gratitude:

Lights Up the Brain's Reward Pathway

Thinking about other people doing nice things floods the brain with positive chemicals and sparks brain activity critical to sleep, orgasms, mood regulation and metabolism.

Shifts the Heart Rhythm

Increases coherence of body functions, which facilitates higher cognitive functions, creating emotional stability, improving mood and facilitating states of calm.

Increases Social Connection

You can feel greater connection and feel more satisfied with friends, family, school, community and yourself.

Increases Resilience

Helps you steer through stressful events and helps you deal with adversity by acting as a buffer against internalising symptoms.

Improves Physical Health

Strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness, and makes us less bothered by aches and pains.

Lessens Anxiety & Depression Symptoms

Challenging negative thought patterns, helps to calm the anxious and boost the moods of those who are depressed.

Increases Productivity

Feeling grateful to others makes us inspired and uplifted—these feelings of elevation bolster motivation to become healthier, more generous people but also better, more productive workers.

Increases Empathy & Compassion

The more thankful we feel, the more likely we are to act pro-socially toward others, causing them to feel grateful and setting up a beautiful virtuous cascade.

Based on research by: R. Emmons, The University of California, USA; M. Mcculough, University of Miami, USA; P. J. Mills, The University of California, USA; R. Zahn, National Institutes of Health, Cognitive Neuroscience Section, USA & The University of Manchester, UK; P. Kini, Indiana University, USA; E. Simon-Thomas, The Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley, USA; J. Froh, Hofstra University, USA; M. A. Stoeckel, American University, USA; A. Wood, University of Stirling, UK; Institute of HeartMath, USA; K. Layousa, California State University, USA.

Discover the Power of Gratitude

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Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with GREATER HAPPINESS.

Gratitude & Resilience = Enhanced Well-being

Adversity is a fact of life but being resilient means you are better able to cope during hardships or challenges, and steer through the storm stronger than you were before.

Resilience is more than just putting on a brave face, it is having the capacity to persevere and to recover quickly from difficulties – disappointments, setbacks, illness and tragedy.

It is one of the best skills we can learn. Helping ourselves and those we love survive through difficult times can seem like a distant dream. But imagine not just surviving but thriving. Becoming stronger and wiser through the experiences of everyday life.

Practicing gratitude is the basis of all Kiwi Journals developed through our Awesome Inc line. Science of positive psychology tells us - it is one of the easiest and most effective ways of retraining the brain.

Robert Emmons, the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, says, “When disaster strikes, gratitude provides a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances.”¹

The Awesome Inc range of gratitude journals will introduce you to the simple ways you can incorporate positive psychology practices into your everyday life. Together let's start building your toolkit to set you up with essential life skills and promote habits that prevent crises and build thriving communities!

According to studies by research psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky and colleagues, it has been determined that after taking into account our genetically predetermined personality (50%) and the circumstances we are born into (10%), a whopping 40% is left over. This 40% is our behaviour or intential activity – that is 40% that is in our ability to control.³

So 40% of your happiness is subject to manipulation! The thoughts and behaviours that characterise naturally happy people can be nurtured, acquired, or directly taught.

Our journals are full of the simple tools to help you learn these behaviours that will positively influence your well-being.

1. ROBERT A EMMONS, GRATITUDE WORKS!: A 21-DAY PROGRAM FOR CREATING EMOTIONAL PROSPERITY. JOSSEY-BASS (2013) 2. BULLET POINTS BASED ON RESEARCH BY R. EMMONS, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORMIA, USA; M. MCCULOUGH, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, USA; P.J. MILLS, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, USA; R. ZAHN, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, COGNITIVE NUEROSCIENCE SECTION, USA; P. KINI, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, USA; E. SIMON-THOMAS, THE GREATER GOOD SCIENCE CENTER, UC BERKELEY, USA; J. FROH, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, USA; M. A. STOEKEL, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, USA; A. WOOD, UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING, UK; INSTITUTE OF HEARTMATH, USA; K. LAYOUSA, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, USA. 3. S. LYBORMIRSKY, K.M. SHELDON AND D. SCHKADE (2005). ‘PURSUING HAPPINESS. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.’ REVIEW OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY. 9. 111-131.