The Psychology of your 20s 351. How gratitude changes your brain
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Nov 6, 2025 Gratitude can sometimes feel more like pressure than comfort, especially when life gets tough. The podcast dives into the science behind gratitude and its ability to rewire our brains, exploring how it boosts positivity and strengthens relationships. However, it also addresses 'toxic gratitude,' where forced thankfulness can inhibit emotional healing. Alternatives are suggested for those struggling to feel grateful, focusing on kindness, curiosity, and reframing difficult experiences as opportunities for growth.
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Gratitude Is Multi-Dimensional
- Gratitude is both a trait and a state that reflects appreciation for what is meaningful in life.
- Robert Emmons frames it as noticing good things and attributing them to forces beyond oneself.
Gratitude Counters Negativity Bias
- Gratitude shifts attention from negativity to what's working by countering our brain's negativity bias.
- It retrains appraisal processes to notice more positives amid inevitable hardships.
Gratitude Deepens Memory Encoding
- Practicing gratitude directs attention and strengthens memory encoding for positive experiences.
- Grateful memories become more deeply encoded and fade less over time than other positives.