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Gratitude Is A Key To Happiness: 4 Reasons Why
Happiness can seem illusive sometimes, especially during hard times. But there’s a surprisingly accessible pathway to contentment, joy and positivity: gratitude. Studies demonstrate gratitude is associated with all kinds of goodies like life satisfaction, health, wellbeing and happiness.
It’s logical there should be so much data on happiness. After all, almost every society across the globe values it as a fundamental part of the human experience and in the U.S., we even identify happiness in our constitution as an inalienable right. Scientists have also investigated gratitude because of the strong connections to mental health and physical wellbeing. But the real magic is that the two are also positively related to each other. Both gratitude and happiness also have genetic components. Your choices matter, and interestingly, they may also be in your DNA.
Ironically, seeking happiness itself can actually make you less happy. This is likely because running after happiness focuses you on what you don’t have—always pursuing something that reminds you it’s not already in your possession. On the other hand, when you cultivate gratitude, it tends to result in greater happiness. Here’s why:
#1 Relationships
Studies at the University of Montana found when people expressed more gratitude they tended to also report greater levels of happiness. This was significantly based on the way gratitude affected human relationships. People tend to feel more positively about themselves and others when they express gratitude and hear expressions of gratitude. This has to do with the positive social meanings we ascribe to gratitude. In fact, the University of New South Whales found when people heard someone express gratitude, they were more likely to conclude they could form a meaningful relationship with the person.
#2 Experiences And Materialism
Gratitude and happiness are also related in terms of how we spend our time and money. Researchers at Cornell University looked at 1,200 examples of online feedback and found when people completed positive reviews about experiences, they were more likely to express happiness—more so than when they completed reviews about purchases. Appreciating experiences requires deeper processing to reflect on and relive the event, and when events are positive this can in turn cement happiness. In addition, we typically enjoy experiences with others, and the time together, investment in the relationship and dynamics of sharing all contribute toward happiness.
Gratitude and happiness were also related to each other in terms of materialism. In particular, a study at Baylor University found when people were more focused on owning and acquiring more things, they were less happy. This was likely because of the inherent focus on what they didn’t already have. Whereas those who were less materialistic were more grateful and more happy because they felt they had enough and were more satisfied overall.
The ancients also saw the relevance of gratitude in terms of possessions. As the philosopher Epicurus said, "Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not. Remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
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