Gratitude leads to happiness.

Not only is gratitude the ‘mother of all virtues’ and good manners but it also leads to happiness!

There’s been a significant amount of research on gratitude and its effects on the individual expressing it, the recipient as well as society.

Here’s a very impressive short list of benefits.

• When we express or receive gratitude our brains releases serotonin and dopamine, enhancing our mood and making us feel happiness from within.
  
  Serotonin and dopamine are two mood regulating hormones. Serotonin makes you feel happier, calmer and focused while dopamine makes you feel motivated, accomplished, and productive. More HERE.

• By consistently expressing gratitude neural pathways are strengthened ultimately cultivating a permanent positive and grateful nature.
  
  The video HERE explains how neural pathways are strengthened. Substitute gratitude for the example used in the video.
  
  Rav Shalom Arush writes In Forest Field, his treatise on personal prayer, that gratitude is considered “one of the most important segments” of personal prayer. Further, expressing gratitude is the most appropriate way to start one’s daily personal prayer.

• Research has shown that gratitude releases toxic emotions, reduces pain, improve quality of sleep, aids in stress regulation, and reduces anxiety and depression.
  
  More HERE.

If you are the visual/video type then you’ll appreciate this well-made, short video by Tremendousness :