The Gratitude Challenge

Wellness Wisdom

Gratitude and the Brain

Did you know that a lack of gratitude causes the production of stress hormones?

YES! Being UNgrateful can actually wreak havoc on the entire nervous system, it adversely affects your immune system and can potentially lead to illnesses, both physical and mental illnesses. On the other hand, feeling grateful has the opposite effect. When we think thoughts of thankfulness, our brains create ‘Healing’ chemicals such as Dopamine. Dopamine triggers the satisfaction and pleasure parts of the brain. Gratitude causes the production of Serotonin, another brain chemical, which regulates social behavior, memory, mood, sleep, energy... and feeling grateful also produces Oxytocin, which gets manufactured in the brain, and it promotes healthy libido and meaningful relationships.