Giving thanks may make your brain more altruistic
gratefulness allows you to perceive things you never thought you could perceive. In short, gratefulness is a higher organ of perception, through which you can accurately appreciate a fundamental truth: the universe works—mysteriously—and you’re the constant beneficiary of its generosity. The Source is supporting you every moment from the day you’re
... See morePhil Stutz • The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower--and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion
The universe bestows the good things of life in proportion to a person’s readiness to receive. Practicing gratitude shows us that we have more resources than we think, and that we are capable of more than we believe.
Mary Morrissey • Brave Thinking: The Art and Science of Creating a Life You Love
studies have shown that just being aware of or questioning your gratitude—even if you can’t think of anything off the top of your head—can create some powerful chemical changes.
Nick Trenton • Calm Your Thoughts: Stop Overthinking, Battle Stress, Stop Spiraling, and Start Living (The Path to Calm Book 2)
The stimuli used to elicit gratitude were drawn from stories of survivors of the Holocaust, as many survivors report being sheltered by strangers or receiving lifesaving food and clothing, and having strong feelings of gratitude for such gifts. The participants were asked to place themselves in the context of the Holocaust and imagine what their ow... See more
Antonio Damasio • Neural correlates of gratitude
The cultivation of a loving concern for other people’s well-being has a surprising and unique benefit: the brain’s circuitry for happiness energizes, along with compassion.19 Loving-kindness also boosts the connections between the brain’s circuits for joy and happiness and the prefrontal cortex, a zone critical for guiding behavior.20 And the great
... See moreDaniel Goleman • The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body
Being kind reduces stress hormones16 and makes you happier; spending money on others can lower your blood pressure as much as a healthy diet; altruism is literally an analgesic. So have another order of French fries, give the fry cook $20, and everyone wins. I love science.