By Dr. Erik Johnson
Love & Health Chiropractic
November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. We put a lot of effort into choosing and preparing that traditional Thanksgiving feast, planning family get-togethers, and launching holiday shopping. We can fill our calendars so full of tasks and activities that we don’t have time left over to practice the heart of the holiday, giving thanks.
Did you know that giving thanks, having gratitude, and showing appreciation are good for your health? An article in Healthline reported that practicing gratitude can improve your sleep quality, foster hope for the future, reduce stress and burnout, and relieve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Giving thanks also increases your resilience, that is, your ability to roll with life’s punches.
How does being thankful support your mental and emotional health? It helps you release toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. According to Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, having appreciation can make you happier and more empathetic and less depressed and aggressive. Emmons also found that people who practiced gratitude experienced less fatigue and inflammation, which reduced their risks for heart failure.
A recent Harvard Medical School blog post entitled “Giving thanks can make you happier” states, “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
And PositivePsychology.com weighs in with, “Gratitude is positively correlated to more vitality, energy, and enthusiasm to work harder.” The physical science behind this statement has to do with brain chemicals that are released when we give thanks—dopamine and serotonin. These “feel-good” neurotransmitters enhance your mood and make you feel happy.
As you know, the brain and the spine are inseparably linked. If you’ve been in to see me for an adjustment, you know that the first thing I ask you is, “What’s your good news for today?” Chiropractic adjustments can also boost those brain chemicals that help you feel happier. A study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research found that 76 percent of chiropractic patients surveyed reported an improvement in their mental and emotional health.
This Thanksgiving season don’t forget to fully give thanks. When you wake up, think of three things you are thankful for. During the day, appreciate the world around you. Thank your friends, family, and coworkers whenever the opportunity presents itself. And when things aren’t going your way, focus on a happy memory or future plans that bring a smile to your face. Don’t just be thankful. Be full of thanks! Practice gratitude every day and your days will be full of more happiness and health.
