For any parent who has more than one child , you may have noticed that gratitude is in part a personality trait . Some people are just more inclined to be grateful by nature . But the good news is habits can change us .
The simplest way to enhance gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal . Five minutes a day can change your child ’ s life .
Here are 10 reasons why it ’ s so important to instill the habit of gratitude in our children .
Gratitude makes us healthier . Research has shown us time and time again that those who engage in practicing gratitude feel less pain , go to the doctor less often , have lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop depression . People who practice gratitude are also more likely to exercise .
Gratitude helps us sleep better . Gratitude has been shown to increase sleep quality , the amount of time it takes to fall asleep , and increases sleep duration . That ’ s because envy and pessimism beget anxiety , which keeps us awake . Gratitude cuts at the very core of anxiety and helps us sleep more peacefully . One study showed that patients with chronic pain conditions who were assigned a daily gratitude journal slept half an hour more than their control group .
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