I read an increasibly great article written by Ellen G. Goldman, Health and Wellness Coach, at Sparkpeople.com. Although Sparkpeople is a weight loss web site it had this excellent article on the The Power of gratitude for a better life. I wanted to share the info contained there for you.
The article explains that gratitude is one of the personality characteristics that happier, healthier, and more energetic people have. These individuals have the ability to be be aware of the good things that happen to them and never take them for granted. Also, they frequently express their thanks and appreciation to others but with an actual mean an not the usual polite thank you.
Researchers on gratitude (an there is a whole body of researchers working on this!!!) have found that individuals who exhibit and express the most gratitude are happier, healthier, and more energetic. Also, they have noticed that people who are grateful have less headaches, stomachaches, nausea, acne, and spend more time exercising. (perhaps they will lose more weight, that is why is published in sparkpeople.com)
Ir would seem that counting our blessings on a regular basis can improve our overall level of happiness and health, but expressing that appreciation to others will do so even more. So how do you increase your gratitude when you are feeling down and seem that life is trowing stones at you? Ellen G. Goldman suggest four things you can do to increase your level of gratitude for a better life:
1) Have a gratitude journal. Write down 3-5 things from the day you should thank for. Simple things. Your kid saying I love you. Getting home on time. Having a good friend. Relish the feeling you get when remembering and writing it down.
2) Express your gratitude to others but with a real sense of gratitude not the politically correct thank you. Share your feelings.
3) Look for what is right about a situation, not what’s wrong.
4) Practice gratitude with your family and friends. Tell your family a good thing that happen that day and let them know. Be grateful for that and express it to them.