Can Practicing Gratitude Really Make You Happier?

And if you have to try so hard to be happy, is that real happiness?

Photo by Hanny Naibaho on Unsplash

Happiness has become quite the buzz word. You don’t have to look far to find an endless list of things you can do to make yourself happier, like exercise, getting enough sleep, being in nature, helping people, and spending time with family and friends. Some of these activities are obvious, but one in particular — practicing gratitude — is not.

At first glance, it can seem ridiculous. If I have to practice being grateful for something, doesn’t that mean I’m just not grateful for it? Why would I force myself to be grateful when I’m not? Isn’t that like pulling the wool over my own eyes so I can pretend to be happy?

These, I think, are valid concerns. It would be foolish and counterproductive to lie to ourselves. The practice of gratitude, however, isn’t about lying to ourselves. It’s not about hiding from the truth or pretending to be something we’re not. Simply put, gratitude helps us notice what we tend to ignore. It helps us see the world a little more clearly and a little more truthfully.

Because of this, gratitude can have an enormous, positive impact on the quality of our lives. It not only boosts subjective well-being but can improve sleep quality and relationships, as well as decrease stress. There’s even some…