Attitude of Gratitude

Sometime others can say it better than I can. I found this article and feel like it captures many of my perspectives for living a grateful life. 

From the Huffington Post, By Dr. Randy Kamen, Contributor, Psychologist. Educator. Author

Gratitude is our emotion that relates to our ability to feel and express thankfulness and appreciation. Traditionally, the study of this emotion has been relegated to the fields of theology and philosophy. In 2007, Robert Emmons began researching gratitude through a psychological lens. He found that expressing gratitude improves mental, physical and relational well-being. Being grateful also impacts the overall experience of happiness, and these effects tend to be long-lasting.

Benefits of Gratitude

·       Improved physical, emotional, and social well-being

·       Greater optimism and happiness,

·       Improved feelings of connection in times of loss or crises

·       Increased self-esteem

·       Heightened energy levels

·       Strengthened heart, immune system, and decreased blood pressure

·       Improved emotional and academic intelligence

·       Expanded capacity for forgiveness

·       Decreased stress, anxiety, depression, and headaches

·       Improved self-care and greater likelihood to exercise

·       Heightened spirituality -- ability to see something bigger than ourselves

Cultivating Gratitude

The most common method for cultivating gratitude is by keeping a "gratitude journal" and recording experiences for which one is grateful. The idea is to write about at least three positive experiences on a daily basis. Examples include taking notice of something in nature, an object of beauty, a pleasant conversation with a friend, a good cup of coffee or helping someone with a problem.

Recording these positive experiences boosts levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy, especially when compared to those who recorded or focused on negative events. Our days rarely go according to plan or without unexpected challenges. Some of us can naturally appreciate the sweet moments as they happen throughout the day, while many of us need to cultivate this sense of appreciation.

Research shows that recording experiences for which one is grateful for only two consecutive weeks has lasting positive effects sustained for up to six months. It therefore behooves us to keep a gratitude journal. In fact, the American Greetings Company recently launched a project in which they encourage people to build their gratitude quotient by simply building a ThankList for those aspects of life that bring us joy.