---
title: Gratitude And Its Neurological Impact
date: 2025-10-24T00:00:00
author: Charlie M.
category: SIGNAL
---
This morning, I was sipping my coffee, watching the way the sunlight crept through the blinds, and it got me thinking about... well, everything and nothing. It's weird how the mind does that, right? One minute you're just, you know, watching dust particles, and the next you're spiraling into big concepts like gratitude. At least, that's how it started for me today. And I guess this whole gratitude thing — is it as big a deal as they make it out to be? I mean, does it really do anything in our brains or is it just, like, a thing people say to sound wise?
So here's the thing, I remember reading — somewhere, probably while scrolling Twitter or something because that's where I get all my fragmented knowledge — that showing gratitude can actually change your brain. But then, I also read that using those blue-light blocking glasses while scrolling at night helps you sleep, and I'm not really sure about that one either. So, what's the real deal here? Are we just saying "thank you" for kicks, or is there some kind of neurological fireworks happening behind the scenes?
I guess the scientists, or maybe just one guy in a lab coat, say gratitude can boost those feel-good chemicals. You know, dopamine and serotonin. I think. Maybe it's norepinephrine? Anyway, something in our grey matter is supposed to get a kick when we start counting our blessings. But then, when I'm actually in the moment, when I'm trying to be grateful — like actually grateful, not just saying it — it doesn't always feel that... electric?
Like, the other day, mid-workout, when I'm trying to be all mindful and “thankful” for my ability to move and whatever, all I could think about was how my leg cramped last week and how much I wanted pizza. Is it just me, or do our brains just not listen to reason sometimes? Or maybe I'm doing it wrong. Can you do gratitude wrong? Is there like a right way to be thankful? Gosh, what if there’s a technique and I’m just over here winging it?
And don’t get me started on attempting gratitude journals. I tried that thing where you write down three things you're grateful for every night. Did it for, I don't know, a week? Two days? Honestly, I can’t remember. It felt forced, like I was trying to trick my mind into being happier or something. And maybe I was. Maybe the brain's like, "Oh, nice try, but I know you still hate mornings and traffic jams." Or maybe I just got bored. That’s likely.
But I think, maybe, the real kicker is — why do I expect some sort of fairy dust magic from gratitude? Like, do actual tangible changes happen or is it just about seeing the same world but through rose-colored glasses? Is the world any different or are we just tricking ourselves into thinking it is?
I don't know, maybe I’m overthinking. It’s just, isn’t it strange how this simple act of saying “thanks” gets layered with all these expectations? I think it'd be cool if our neurons really did a happy dance, but if they don't... does it still matter? Does the effort count? Who knows. Maybe I’ll just keep sipping my coffee and watching the dust swirl. See if that helps. Or, maybe not.