Positive thinking can go a long way. In fact, studies show this kind of thinking can impact heart health for the better, as I recently read “Can Gratitude Be Good for Your Heart?,” an article by Paul J. Mills and Laura Redwine that was published by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, on October 25, 2017. Personally, I offer gratitude and positive intentions every day. Doing so makes me feel more grounded, connected and less stressed in my own body. Hopefully, this has in impact on my future heart health—fingers crossed!
There are obviously many ways to see events in life. While it is certainly very easy to complain—which I often do—ultimately turning those negative thoughts and feelings around is important for overall health and well-being.
What exactly is gratitude? The article I quoted above says gratitude is “noticing and appreciating the positive aspects of life.” How can this impact one’s heart health? In an initial pilot study of 185 individuals who had more grateful dispositions—pertaining specifically to gratitude—participants slept better, felt less depressed, had less overall fatigue, felt better about themselves, were more self-sufficient and had less overall inflammatory markers in their bloodwork. The study suggested that grateful people are healthier people.
Another pilot study took these ideas a bit further, incorporating a gratuity journal. This study focused on “heart rate variability and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with stage B heart failure.” Those in the study kept a gratuity journal for two months, each day acknowledging two or three things they were grateful for. The patients who took part showed reduced inflammatory biomarkers and increased heart rate variability (HRV) when compared to those who did not use a gratuity journal. It has been noted that disease progression of heart failure is typically characterized by the decline of HRV, which are the time intervals between heartbeats. Having a gratitude journal sure doesn’t seem like a bad idea!
As mentioned in the article by Mills and Redwine, gratuity is connected to good feelings, life satisfaction, purpose in life, positive relationships with others and personal growth. Daily acknowledgement of gratitude can have a much greater impact on our overall health and well-being than what we may expect. How we internalize certain aspects of life, how we deal with emotions, how we see ourselves and our outlook on reality can affect who we are—including the state of our overall health. Take time, daily, to show gratitude.
Acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts. Writing about health and wellness gives her an outlet to express her care and concern for her beloved community. She believes everyone can achieve better health and happiness–emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.