The science of gratitude
Giving thanks is an essential part of what makes us human.
The big picture: Gratitude was once a survival skill — and the practice, along with its benefits, has endured.
Zoom out: Humans’ power — and longevity — come from our nature as social animals.
- Some scientists think gratitude is a key element of that, AP reports.
- We survived and thrived by helping each other out — and the feeling of gratitude may have evolved to motivate us to keep exchanging favors.
Zoom in: We’ve practiced gratitude for so long that studies have found traces of it in our brains.
- Children as young as 2 years old can demonstrate the feeling, AP notes.
Why it matters: Gratitude is good for us.
- As we’ve reported, researchers have found that taking time to dwell on what we’re grateful for — instead of what we’re dissatisfied with — can leave us feeling markedly more optimistic about our lives.
- And penning letters of gratitude to others can even chip away at symptoms of depression.
A few months ago, to balance all the negativity out there, I started writing an ongoing list of the people, past and present, who have made a meaningful difference in my life, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei writes.
- I try to read it(and add to it) a few times each week, mainly to remind myself of the goodness and generosity around us.
Πηγή: axios.com
