Fuel the positive with gratitude
Want a simple way to fuel the positive in your life? Try gratitude.
Developing a habitual focus on gratitude has been shown to have a positive impact on multiple levels. Take the results of the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving by a couple psychology professors out of Southern Methodist University and UC Davis, for example:
The study required several hundred people in three different groups to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day, while the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.
The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCollough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.
What I love about this is the degree to which gratitude has a positive impact on both our internal state and the way we behave in the world.
Brought to you by Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst TM
It sounds so old-fashioned, and even simple-minded, but making up your mind to be happy is a very big part of being happy.
Grandma said it, Mom said it, and now science is proving it!
What's next?!
Posted by: Working Girl | March 01, 2007 at 05:57 PM
I absolutely agree! I think it's vitally important to stop and think about what you are grateful for. Otherwise, you'll never feel satisfied with what you have and what's around you and you'll instead be looking to fill voids that otherwise wouldn't be there.
Erin Blaskie
Posted by: Erin Blaskie | March 07, 2007 at 11:28 PM
I know this works in my life! "Absolutely no question about it", as my grandfather used to say.
What catches my interest is the power of gratitude as a practice, in other words, something I choose to integrate in my life every day; something I choose to do regularly. Sometimes it comes naturally, without thought, and other times it is a discipline.
Posted by: Kate WIlliams | March 09, 2007 at 10:54 AM
I met Julia Butterfly Hill at a Ben Harper concert..she was so cool, since then I've begun on a long journey of Self Improvement that's led me back to more gratitude!
Posted by: growth | October 14, 2007 at 01:33 AM