"Gratitude exercises" refer to activities or practices that help individuals cultivate and express gratitude. These exercises can range from writing down things one is thankful for to keeping a gratitude journal or simply reflecting on and appreciating good things in life. They help people focus on the positive aspects of their lives and foster feelings of thankfulness and appreciation.
Full definition
Half of this group were assigned a
simple gratitude exercise — writing letters of thanks to people in their lives — and three months later all 43 underwent brain scans.
Still, neurological investigations into gratitude are in their early days, and this research certainly gives us some intriguing clues as to how and
why gratitude exercises are beneficial.
The second objective involves building positive emotions, for example
with gratitude exercises that clients can practice in between sessions.
Mark Williams and Danny Penman authors of «Mindfulness: An Eight Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World,» suggested on CNN that you perform a 10 -
finger gratitude exercise everyday.
Time and again, studies have shown that performing
simple gratitude exercises, like keeping a gratitude diary or writing letters of thanks, can bring a range of benefits, such as feelings of increased well - being and reduced depression, that often linger well after the exercises are finished.
«Those who participate in a
daily gratitude exercise have lower levels of depression and stress and are more likely to offer emotional support to others and help them make it through their difficulties.»
The gratitude exercise shifts your mind out of the amygdala and the stressful thought and returns you to your prefrontal cortex.
The intervention included diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery training, audiovisual material on exercise and nutrition, as well as training on cognitive restructuring and
gratitude exercises.
You practice
a gratitude exercise and discuss how you experience gratitude in your life.
The question may have been prompted by a recently published study by Susan Sergeant and Myriam Mongrain in which
a gratitude exercise not only did not work with particularly needy personality types, but also appeared to result in lower self - esteem.
If you'd like to do some experimenting of your own, consider practicing
some gratitude exercises.