Experts suggest that expressing gratitude can enhance your happiness and well-being.

Giving thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday not only promotes gratitude but also has the added benefit of improving one's health.

Experts suggest that practicing gratitude can enhance people's mood and mental health.

According to M. David Rudd, PhD, a distinguished professor of psychology at The University of Memphis, emotional experiences are shaped by cognitive processes, or how people think.

He stated that gratitude serves as a reminder that perspective plays a crucial role in life.

The link between gratitude and happiness

According to Rudd, gratitude is a "key element" in achieving happiness.

"Optimists tend to be happier in life than pessimists, even if their optimism is considered "naive," and they are more likely to express gratitude, he said."

According to Rudd, having an optimistic outlook in life is crucial to finding happiness, and it's important to remember that there are always things to be grateful for, even during difficult times.

The expert pointed out that there is a "vital connection" between emotions and motivation, as happier individuals tend to be more disciplined and productive.

The connection between faith and gratitude

Rabbi Pinchas Taylor of Florida stated that the early settlers expressed both gratitude and faith, according to him.

He told Planet Chronicle Digital that when they arrived on these shores, their first instinct was gratitude.

"They expressed gratitude to a deity who, in their perspective, had rescued them from peril and provided them with the chance to reside in a new country with freedom and devotion."

A learned behavior

Rudd stated that gratitude is not merely a viewpoint, but also a skill that can be "cultivated through practice," similar to physical fitness and social relationships.

Clinical psychologist and NYU Langone Health associate professor Thea Gallagher claims that the human brain is "programmed to be somewhat critical."

"Gratitude is a reminder that, in many ways, perspective in life is everything."

In an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital, she gave an example of noticing a stain on a shirt before noticing the rest of it.

Gallagher proposed training the mind to focus on "things that are positive."

Gallagher emphasized that it's important not to spread "toxic positivity" by pretending that "everything is fine."

She advises people to focus on the positive aspects of their lives and express gratitude for them, rather than solely addressing challenges and stressors.

Practicing mindfulness can help us "bring us back to the present," as Gallagher suggests.

"Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by my toddlers, but when I take a moment to laugh at their antics, it helps me stay present."

"Let us not only celebrate our blessings, but also recommit to the faith and morality that make those blessings possible."

"I can say, 'Parts of this phase are hard and challenging and overwhelming, but other parts are really fun.'"

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According to Gallagher, mindfulness techniques are crucial for mental health and can help reduce anxiety and depression.

At the conclusion of the day, Gallagher advises making a list of three things you appreciate, regardless of their magnitude.

She said, "You are truly honoring these moments with the respect they deserve."

This Thanksgiving, let us not only celebrate our blessings but also reaffirm our commitment to the faith and morality that underpin them.