A L O H A !
“If you want to sleep more soundly,
count blessings,
not sheep,”
Robert A. Emmons,
University of California, Davis
“Thanks!”
his book on gratitude research
God does not need our gratitude,
nor does any other benefactor
so much as we ourselves
need to know it
and express it.
nor does any other benefactor
so much as we ourselves
need to know it
and express it.
“ If you have lived,
take thankfully the past. "
John Dryden
"As each day comes to us
"As each day comes to us
refreshed and anew,
so does my gratitude
renew itself daily.
The breaking of the sun
over the horizon
is my grateful heart
dawning
upon a blessed world. "
Terri Guillemets
Try a gratitude visit.
This exercise, recommended by
Martin Seligman
of the University of Pennsylvania,
begins with writing a 300-word letter
to someone who changed your life for the better.
Be specific about what the person did and how it affected you.
Deliver it in person, preferably without telling
the person in advance what the visit is about.
When you get there, read the whole thing slowly
to your benefactor.
“You will be happier and less depressed
one month from now,”
Dr. Seligman guarantees
in his book “Flourish.”
" Cultivating an “attitude of gratitude”
has been linked to better health, sounder sleep,
less anxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior
toward others, including romantic partners.
less anxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior
toward others, including romantic partners.
A new study shows that feeling grateful
makes people less likely to turn aggressive
when provoked.
makes people less likely to turn aggressive
when provoked.
Start with “gratitude lite.”
That’s the term used by Robert A. Emmons,
of the University of California, Davis
of the University of California, Davis
(the pepper-spray university!)
in his pioneering experiments he conducted
along with Michael E. McCullough
along with Michael E. McCullough
at the University of Miami.
They instructed people to keep a journal
listing five things
listing five things
for which they felt grateful,
like a friend’s generosity, something they’d learned,
like a friend’s generosity, something they’d learned,
a sunset they’d enjoyed.
The gratitude journal was brief
The gratitude journal was brief
— just one sentence for each of the five things —
and done only once a week,
but after two months there were significant effects.
but after two months there were significant effects.
Compared with a control group, the people keeping
the gratitude journal were more optimistic
and felt happier.
the gratitude journal were more optimistic
and felt happier.
They reported fewer physical problems
and spent more time working out.
Further benefits were observed
in a study of polio survivors
and spent more time working out.
Further benefits were observed
in a study of polio survivors
and other people
with neuromuscular problems.
with neuromuscular problems.
The ones who kept a gratitude journal
reported feeling happier
and more optimistic
than those in a control group,
and these reports were corroborated
by observations from their spouses.
and these reports were corroborated
by observations from their spouses.
(can't fool them!)
These grateful people also fell asleep
more quickly at night,
more quickly at night,
slept longer and woke up
feeling more refreshed.
Go for deep gratitude.
feeling more refreshed.
Go for deep gratitude.
Once you’ve learned to count your blessings,
Dr. Emmons says,
Dr. Emmons says,
you can think bigger.
“As a culture, we have lost a deep sense
of gratefulness
“As a culture, we have lost a deep sense
of gratefulness
about the freedoms we enjoy,
a lack of gratitude
toward those who lost their lives
in the fight for freedom,
toward those who lost their lives
in the fight for freedom,
a lack of gratitude
for all the material advantages
we have,” he says.
we have,” he says.
“The focus of Thanksgiving should be
a reflection of how our lives
have been made so much more
comfortable
have been made so much more
comfortable
by the sacrifices of those
who have come before us.”
Derived from an article that appeared in print
on November 22, 2011,
on page D1 of the New York Times,
who have come before us.”
Derived from an article that appeared in print
on November 22, 2011,
on page D1 of the New York Times,
NY Edition with the headline:
A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day.
I'm grateful for YOU
your visit is a gift
that I cherish!
Warmly, cloudia
