The Core Benefits of Gratitude in Kundalini Yoga
Learning to be more grateful is a central part of your Kundalini Yoga journey. While this mindset can help you feel calmer and more relaxed, there are plenty of other gratitude benefits you will reap. Let’s take a look at some of the science-backed benefits.
Boosted Happiness
We all want to experience joy. However, when we’re stressed, overworked, or tired, it can be hard to keep our spirits high. Being more grateful is one of the best ways to increase your happiness, according to research from George Mason University.
Interestingly enough, the study also found that gender plays a role in how grateful we are. The experts found that women were more likely to express gratitude than men. Regardless of that, choosing to be grateful for the many gifts you have in life could make a huge difference when it comes to your everyday mood.
Improved Mental Well-Being
Want to give yourself a mental boost? It should come as no surprise that one of the biggest gratitude benefits is improved mental well-being. Research from the National Communication Association found that expressing gratitude can mean that people have higher levels of mental wellness and gives you a sense of positivity.
Whether you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, taking the time to be more grateful could have a significant impact on how you feel. For instance, you may choose to start a gratitude journal or simply talk more openly about the things you’re grateful for.
Greater Levels of Altruism
Altruism means having a selfless concern for others’ well-being. Luckily, one of the main benefits of gratitude could be that it improved your ability to be altruistic. Believe it or not, starting a gratitude journal helps improve people’s tendency toward altruism, according to research from the University of Oregon.
When you start a journal, it means that you have the time and space to reflect on the positive things in your life. For example, you may take more time to realize that you have a lot of gifts from the universe. In turn, this experience may help you to become more altruistic and giving in other areas of your life. It’s a win-win situation.
Better Heart Health
Here’s one of the unexpected benefits of gratitude. Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that being more grateful could improve both mental and physical symptoms in patients with asymptomatic heart failure.
“It seems that a more grateful heart is indeed a more healthy heart, and that gratitude journaling is an easy way to support cardiac health,” stated lead author Paul J. Mills, PhD, professor of family medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego.
The Takeaway!
Now that you know all about the benefits of gratitude, why not try to incorporate it into your daily life? There are plenty of ways to become more grateful, such as meditating on the things you are grateful for. It’s all about figuring out what works for you. Get started today and begin reaping the countless rewards.
See more: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Sadhana (Personal Practice)
