Mr. Dr. Jahan Al -Omran
Feeling of gratitude has a magical effect on mental health and a sense of internal peace and reassurance, which is a key to promoting happiness and achieving psychological balance, and one of the most important topics of positive psychology that has shined its star in recent years. We are grateful when we appreciate the positive things in our lives, whether large or small. Such as getting support from friends or family, or enjoying the blessings of God from food, drink, housing, clothing, and the blessing of good offspring. And he thanked God for his unprecedented blessings. This feeling of gratitude has positive effects on a person that is more than this feeling of gratitude towards what we enjoy from yes and good, as in the noble verse “and if you thank you for increasing you.” Even feeling of gratitude for the calamity if it comes to us, because its occurrence may mean that God has protected us from greater evil, such as the man who suffered from panic; Because he lost his job awaiting him in another country; Because he was late to catch up with his plane’s date to discover later that the plane had crashed.
Recent research indicates that the practice of gratitude, such as writing letters of thanks, carries great psychological benefits, especially when combined with traditional psychotherapy. Psychologists have sought to study this topic scientifically. In a study conducted on 300 participants who suffer from psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, the participants were divided into three groups: the first was written weekly letters for three weeks, the second was written about negative experiences, and the third did not practice any written activity. The results showed that the group that wrote the letters of gratitude witnessed a remarkable improvement in its psychological health compared to other groups, and these benefits continued for weeks after the end of the activity.
One of the reasons for this improvement is that writing gratitude messages reduces thinking about negative feelings such as feeling sorrow and cheerful, which helps to convert the focus towards positive experiences and people who have provided support in life. Interestingly, the benefits of gratitude appeared even when the participants did not send their messages, indicating that the writing process itself is sufficient to make a difference.
Another amazing aspect is that the practice of gratitude makes changes in brain activity. Studies using magnetic resonance imaging have shown that people who wrote gratitude showed a higher activity in the middle frontal area, which is the area responsible for making decisions and learning.
Graduation is a simple, but effective way to improve mental health. Whether you are facing psychological challenges, or looking to enhance your feeling of happiness, gratitude can make a big difference. Take a few minutes today to write a message of thanks or think about the things you feel grateful to it, and you will find that this habit can rearrange your priorities, and open the door for a more positive and brighter life.
* University professor in psychology
