Being thankful for the good things can help you feel better. (Based on scientific studies.)

If you are feeling depressed, thinking about things you are THANKFUL for can help you become happier and healthier, sleep better, and lessen depression and anxiety. What a wonderful tool to use!

Sometimes it may feel hard to find things you feel thankful for—especially if you’re an abuse or trauma survivor, and having a rough day. But if you can think of someone you love dearly who loves you, or an animal companion who loves you, or being thankful for a good book, delicious food, having enough food to eat—whatever you appreciate and are glad for—it can help you. Gratitude—a good thing to make into a habit if you can. Even if you don’t do it every day it can still help you!

And that doesn’t mean that, by being thankful, you ignore your trauma or pain—it just means that you notice the things that are good in your life, that even if you find one small thing to be grateful for, it will help you. I’m going to try to find one thing I’m grateful for every day. I hope you’ll join me.

This is based on scientific studies. Found via author Maureen Johnson.

Read the article here: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201211/the-grateful-brain