Gratitude

Univ. of California, Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons writes, "Thousands of years of literature talk about the benefits of cultivating gratefulness as a virtue”.  Now, through a recent movement called “positive psychology”, professionals are studying how “Growing the virtue of gratitude” directly benefits our health.

Dr. Robert Emmon’s research began with a simple experiment, asking a group of students to write down 3 “benefits”/day for 10 weeks (i.e., enjoying a haircut or a car stopping for them at an intersection).  He asked another group to record 3 “burdens”/day (i.e., a roommate overcooking dinner or not removing the lint from the dryer).  A third group recorded 3 neutral things a day (describing the living room furniture).  After 100’s of replicated studies, Dr. Emmon’s and other researchers have identified the following benefits to a daily gratitude building practice. 

 People who have a daily Growing gratitude practice:

•  consistently experience more positive emotions

•  feel more alert, energetic, enthused, alive

•  sleep better

•  have lower blood pressure

•  are more likely to accomplish personal goals

•  more likely to exercise and stick with a self-improvement programs 

 A gratitude Growing practice  

•  helps block toxic emotions like envy, resentment, regret, hostility, depression

•  re-focuses attention away from stress and worry

•  brings closure to unresolved traumatic memories

•  improves longevity (by 7-9 years)

•  strengthens social ties, feeling less lonely and isolated

•  improves a sense of self-worth.