- The Smarter Brain
- Posts
- How thankfulness makes you smarter (and happier)
How thankfulness makes you smarter (and happier)
Neuroscience shows that gratitude strengthens memory, reduces stress, and fuels emotional growth.
Mario Peshev
October 22, 2025
Welcome to The Smarter Brain, a curation of thought-provoking ideas and actionable reads to help you build better habits and become more productive.
Happy reading - See you on Wednesday!
Cheers,
The Smarter Brain Team
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
3 Ideas for Better Habits
The Depth of Gratitude
Gratitude expert Janice Kaplan explores how appreciation reshapes perception and deepens emotional satisfaction.
“I quickly realised that gratitude wasn’t the same as happiness - it has a much deeper resonance. Most of us feel cheered when something nice occurs - a friend sends flowers or we spend an afternoon in the park.”
Gratitude Grows
Researcher Robert Emmons reveals how daily appreciation builds emotional and cognitive resilience.
“Gratitude is fertilizer for the mind, spreading connections and improving its function in nearly every realm of experience.”
Connection in a Glance
Psychologist Shawn Achor shows how expressing thanks enhances empathy and brain connectivity.
“When we make eye contact with someone, it actually sends a signal to the brain that triggers empathy and rapport.”
Your Tool for Reflective Gratitude Journaling
This set of journaling prompt cards by The School of Life offers guided reflections to help you slow down, gain perspective, and connect more deeply with yourself and others. Each card presents a thoughtful starting point—perfect for moments when you want to nurture mindfulness or strengthen emotional resilience.
Here are a few examples of prompts:
Write about something you’re thankful for that changed your perspective.
Describe a small act of kindness you noticed this week.
Reflect on how gratitude helps you handle challenges differently.
Write a letter to someone you’ve never thanked but should have.
Note three things that made you smile today and why they mattered.
🧠 A few minutes of guided journaling each day can help you train your mind toward gratitude and long-term mental well-being.
Productivity Tools and Resources
The Science of Gratitude and Brain Health
Gratitude isn’t just emotional - it’s neurological. Experts at the University of Utah Health found that journaling or expressing appreciation can regulate stress hormones, improve sleep, and support neuroplasticity. Embedding gratitude into small daily actions helps the brain stay balanced and adaptable. Explore how gratitude reshapes brain chemistry.
Rewiring the Brain With Thanks
New neuroscience research shows that writing gratitude letters activates regions linked to learning and emotional regulation. These actions lower stress, build resilience, and strengthen social bonds. Over time, gratitude literally reshapes how the brain processes challenge and reward. Learn more about how gratitude rewires the brain for resilience.
Reflection for Mental Clarity
Journaling creates space for awareness and perspective. Platforms like Day One Journal make it easy to document gratitude, insights, and goals - turning brief reflections into a practice that sharpens focus and emotional balance. Explore the power of journaling to organize your thoughts, track your habits, and deepen self-awareness.
Mindful Tracking for Positive Change
Apps such as Reflectly use AI-assisted prompts to guide reflections that boost emotional well-being. Writing down moments of gratitude reinforces reward pathways and builds stress resistance.
What We're Reading
Mindful Newsletter: Explore practical insights on mindfulness, gratitude, and personal growth. Each edition blends reflective habits with science-backed tips for focus, calm, and mental resilience.
3-2-1 Newsletter: A short weekly dose of reflection from James Clear, combining quotes, ideas, and actionable insights to help you think clearer and live with intention.
Brain Food
Today I Learned: Practicing daily gratitude can reduce symptoms of stress and depression. (Source)
Science: A meta-analysis found that gratitude interventions produce moderate increases in well-being across diverse populations. (Source)
Have a productive rest of your week,
The Smarter Brain Team
Resource Spotlight
Gratitude Practices, Brain Health, Daily Balance
Monthly dispatches uncover how gratitude enhances emotional regulation and cognitive function. Featured in neuroscience research, these insights explain how simple habits like mindful journaling and reflection can calm stress responses and build mental clarity.
Neuroscience of Giving and Gratitude
Studies show that practicing gratitude and generosity activates pleasure and trust centers in the brain. This process releases dopamine and oxytocin - “feel-good” chemicals that regulate mood, reduce anxiety, and promote long-term brain health.
Gratitude for Longevity and Well-Being
Harvard research shows that gratitude correlates with lower blood pressure, improved sleep, and reduced depression risk. By shifting attention toward appreciation, you train your brain to find calm and clarity even under stress.
(Everything in the section above is an ad, book yours here)
How would you rate this newsletter? |
Partner with The Smarter Brain and reach 8,000 professionals' inboxes. Contact us to learn more.
If you enjoy The Smarter Brain, we would really appreciate you spreading the word by sharing the sign up link to a colleague or friend. Thank you!
Collaborate with The Smarter Brain