Embracinggratitudecan make it easier to deal with family drama during the holidays. And it also may help you to manage your arthritis. Research found that thankfulness helps people feel happier and more optimistic, even when things aren’t going well. It strengthens personal relationships and can alsoimprove physical health.
It may also help people cope withchronic pain, says Fuschia Sirois, PhD, a psychologist and researcher at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. “Feeling grateful counteracts the worry, rumination and negative thoughts that can compound pain,” she says.
Not feeling it? Try these evidence-backed techniques to make gratitude your attitude:
Each day, list three things for which you feel grateful.“When gratitude becomes something you [feel] regularly in different areas in your life, you start to feel it more intensely and it tends to become a habit,” says Sirois. Make your list when you get into bed topromote restful sleep.
Express it.“关节炎会让你感到孤独，”Sirois说。“Telling someone why you’re gratefulfor them can help you recognize that people are there for you.”
Ask what others are grateful for.Hearing what friends and family appreciate makes it easier to find those things in your own life, says Sirois. “Gratitude is a social emotion. It can be powerful to hear what others are thankful for and to share the things for which you are grateful.” – E. Delzell
Related Resources
- How to Build Resilience and Bounce Back Into Life
- Voices: How Do You Cultivate Joy?
- Fast, Delicious Holiday Feast Recipes