Being Grateful Helps the Mind and the Body
By Lindsay Leimbach
Research published by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley from Indiana University professors Joel Wong and Joshua Brown on “How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain” identifies how gratitude might actually work on our minds and bodies. They discuss these four insights from their research suggesting what causes the psychological benefits of gratitude:
1. Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions
2. Gratitude helps even if you don’t share it
3. Gratitude’s benefits take time
4. Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain