Gratitude practice is nothing new – many of us have given it a go at some point or another. But while it might seem like a wellness cliché, taking time to acknowledge and appreciate the things you’re thankful for really can make you happier.

It’s all to do with the way our brains work. As humans, we’re predisposed to focus on the bad stuff, thanks to a cognitive phenomenon known as the negativity bias. This bias not only means we’re more likely to focus on negative stimuli, but we’re also more likely to dwell on them for longer.

In the past, this bias was an important survival mechanism: by helping us to focus on and adapt to the worst-case scenario, the negativity bias ensured we were better placed to deal with whatever dangers we came across. But in a world where survival isn’t about avoiding predators and securing stable food sources, this negativity bias latches on to unhelpful things. Suppose you’ve ever found yourself beating yourself up over a random comment on social media or struggling to shake off a tense interaction with a stranger on public transport. In that case, you’ll know what we’re talking about – the negative stuff just sticks.

But practising gratitude helps us to balance out that negativity. In a study published back in 2003, participants who took part in gratitude journaling on a weekly basis reported feeling more satisfied with their lives and felt more optimistic about the coming week. Since then, numerous studies have reiterated these findings: the more you focus on the good stuff, the better you feel.

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