Total Body Wellness

Did you know that you can reduce your stress level by practicing gratitude?

Two psychologists, Robert Emmons, PhD, of the University of California, Davis, and Michael McCullough, PhD, of the University of Miami, conducted a study on gratitude and thankfulness. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003): They divided hundreds of people into three groups, each of which was instructed to keep a different type of journal. One group recorded what they were grateful for, another recorded hassles. The third group simply listed five events that had occurred in the last week, but not told to focus on positive or negative aspects.
People who were in the gratitude condition felt fully 25% happier - they were more optimistic about the future, they felt better about their lives and they even did almost 1.5 hours more exercise a week than those in the hassles or events condition.

In the world we live in, the economy and our busy lifes, it is very easy to think more about what are problems are and not focus on what makes us happy. Think of your own experiences, just the simple act of saying thank you or thinking of or looking at someone or something that you are grateful for can change your mood drastically.

Don’t believe the Emmons and McCullough study?
Create your own study. Why not create your own journal. A gratitude journal. Before you go to bed just take a moment to jot down all that you are grateful for that day. It can be as simple as no traffic when you were running late to a bed to sleep in to a your families health. By placing these thoughts in your mind before you sleep, it will help you sleep better and help you to have sweet dreams and wake up rested.

When you are grateful on a regular basis, people recognize it and feel valued so that you will soon find that you are surrounded by happier people.

Try it for one week and see what happens, you may want to make it a habit.

By the way, I am grateful for all you who are reading this. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Filed by Jeanette at 10:10 am under Lifestyle