for some people with mild depression and for those with poor psychosocial coping styles said doraiswamy clearly if someone has severe depression or is suicidal they need urgent medical management for acute care but even there positive psychology strategies may reduce their risk for relapse or increase compliance with their treatments gratitude helps us counteract the negativity bias by focusing our attention on the good stuff jain said a little focus can go a long way to improving ones psychological social and physical health if its tough to get out of a negativethinking rut wasden suggested keeping a journal of things big or small for which you are grateful write letters of gratitude and meditate on positive emotions one of the most wellknown practices uncovered from this research is known as the three blessings exercise said jain each night before going to bed you write down three good things ordinary or extraordinary that happened to you during the day studies reveal those who continue this exercise for one week straight can increase their happiness and decrease depressive symptoms for up to a sixmonth period thank you for reading now go express gratefulness to that special person place or thing in your life write it down or yodel it from the rooftops hey its for the good of your health