Giving thanks can make you happier and healthier, experts say
The Thanksgiving holiday is all about being grateful for what’s present in your life — and giving thanks can also provide an unexpected health boost.
Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve people's mood and mental health, according to experts.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, M. David Rudd, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology at The University of Memphis, explained how emotional experiences are «defined by cognitive processes,» or how people think.
FORGIVENESS COULD LEAD TO BETTER MENTAL HEALTH, HARVARD STUDY REVEALS
«Gratitude is a reminder that, in many ways, perspective in life is everything,» he said.
When it comes to happiness, gratitude is a «central theme,» according to Rudd.
«In general, optimists tend to be happier in life than pessimists, even if their optimism is considered ‘naive,’» he said. «Gratitude is more common in optimists as well.»
The idea that there are «always things to be grateful for in life, regardless of hardships or daily challeng..