The Neuroscience Behind Giving Thanks

Expressing gratitude has been shown to lower cortisol and set off a cascade of “feel good” neurotransmitters in our brain. These neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin, cause us to experience positive emotional, biological and behavioral state changes. The coolest thing? The benefits of expressing gratitude can be felt whether we feel like shit or we feel awesome. Our starting point doesn’t matter as much and either way, we now know that on a scientific, biochemical level, expressing gratitude will benefit us in both the short and long term.

So - next time you’re needing a good pick me up or you want to enhance groovy feelings even more - express gratitude. For your ability to breathe, for the sky, for something cool that’s happened in your life - anything! Really go there and let it light you up. Stanford Professor Andrew Huberman, Phd, also tells us that receiving gratitude from others is especially good for us. So if someone tells you they love you this weekend, they're grateful for you etc. please take it in. Embrace and indulge in the positive effects you have on others! It's good for you.

How cool are our brains?!

”A Shot of Dopamine – whether expressing gratitude for what’s good in life or showing gratitude to someone who has helped us at work, neural circuitry in our brain (stem) releases dopamine. Dopamine makes us feel good! And, because it feels good, we want more. It triggers positive emotions, we feel optimistic, and it fosters camaraderie. It also drives prosocial behaviors. Ah-ha! Put that under how to enhance performance, because dopamine has been linked to intrinsic motivation in goal accomplishment, whether academic, personal, or professional.

A Swig of Serotonin – when we reflect on or write down the positives in life and at work, our brain (anterior cingulate cortex) releases serotonin. Serotonin enhances our mood, (think anti-depressant), our willpower, and motivation.”

Source: UPenn, Wharton Health Care

“This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before.” - Maya Angelou

One of the key things about experiencing gratitude on a daily basis is the element of surprise. To experience the benefits of gratitude, we must allow ourselves to be delighted by what we do have - right here, right now, the big and the small. We must also challenge assumptions of what’s worthy of our time and attention. In a world of excessive consumerism, ever evolving expectations and rambunctious levels of stress - make sure to spend some time prioritizing your experience and expression of gratitude. Not only is it a great strategy to help you get through some of the inevitable tough times that life throws our way, but furthermore, it’s an opportunity to spend time with all that is truly good.

Gratitude Ritual: 2 ideas on how to incorporate more gratitude into our daily lives…

1. Commit to one complaint-free day a week - or at the very least, every time you notice yourself complaining or getting into a lack mentality, immediately couple that with an expression of gratitude. Overtime, this will re-wire your brain to look for alternative, uplifting perspectives, therefore orienting you towards creating solutions and associating gratitude with problem solving.

2. Write a gratitude letter - write a letter (extra feel good points if it’s handwritten, mailed etc.) text, email, or voice note expressing your gratitude for someone. Express what you’re grateful for in your life and invite them to do the same. Not only will you feel good expressing the gratitude - but you’ll pass that on and give someone else a dopamine hit through authentic connection and feeling seen. *This is a great thing to do this weekend while sitting around with family and friends, getting excited to share in the feel good feast.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit more about gratitude and how it can help you feel good and do great things!

[Blog written on Thanksgiving]

We want to acknowledge the Indigenous people of our nation, and of all nations. Our nation and its first “Thanksgiving” was only made possible because of the dynamic gifts and generosity of Native Americans. The history of colonization in this country is devastating. The history of who our land first belonged to - the indigenous peoples of America is complex, sophisticated, wildly beautiful and profoundly moving. Some people experience Thanksgiving as a day of mourning from all that was taken and lost from the Indigenous people of our country. Some view it as a celebration of their perseverance. Either way, we are grateful to learn more about it all. We invite you to learn more about the history of our nation's first people, and explore different art exhibitions that tell their stories at the Smithsonian: National Museum of the American Indian.

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