Practicing gratitude and positive thinking is an essential part in living a happier life. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others.
According to Harvard Health research, gratitude helps you “feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve your health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
One of the best ways to practice gratitude is by doing simple acts of kindness towards other people. When you’re being kind to others, you’re not the only one who’s giving away something. In fact, you are getting a lot, if not more, in return.
Drs. Sreenivasan and Weinberger wrote in Psychology Today that being aware that you’re being kind to others heightens the sense of your own good fortune. It also makes you feel more connected to others.
“When you feel connected with others, you lessen alienation and you enhance the sense that we are more similar than dissimilar in our experiences. Feeling connected melds us together rather than divides us. Kindness is potent in strengthening a sense of community and belonging.”
They also cited a research saying that compassion and kindness has the power to reduce stress, boost the immune system, and help reduce negative emotions such as anger, depression, and anxiety.
