{"id":485,"date":"2020-11-18T19:27:10","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T19:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/?p=485"},"modified":"2020-11-18T19:28:23","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T19:28:23","slug":"wellness-wednesday-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/2020\/11\/18\/wellness-wednesday-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellness Wednesday: Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_487\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-487\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-487\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/files\/2020\/11\/brain-300x139.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/files\/2020\/11\/brain-300x139.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/files\/2020\/11\/brain.png 328w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-487\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Neural correlates of gratitude. Medial Prefrontal activity correlating with participants&#8217; gratitude ratings.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Even though this Thanksgiving will be very different than other years, we have much to be grateful for. A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gratitude_journal\u200b\">gratitude journal<\/a>\u00a0is a way to actually see that and to say grace but on paper.\u00a0Gratitude has gained a lot of attention in the field of\u00a0positive psychology and a large body of research suggests it can make us healthier and happier.\u00a0Some studies have found that those who are habitually grateful are happier than those who are not. Feelings of gratitude may even possess mental and physical health benefits\u00a0and can help relieve depressive symptoms.<\/p>\n<h2>Benefits of a gratitude journal<\/h2>\n<p>Credit: Robert Emmons and the Greater Good Science Center at U.C. Berkeley, <a href=\"https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal\">https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Physical<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Stronger immune systems<\/li>\n<li>Less bothered by aches and pains<\/li>\n<li>Lower blood pressure<\/li>\n<li>Exercise more and take better care of their health<\/li>\n<li>Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Psychological<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Higher levels of positive emotions<\/li>\n<li>More alert, alive, and awake<\/li>\n<li>More joy and pleasure<\/li>\n<li>More optimism and happiness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Social<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>More helpful, generous, and compassionate<\/li>\n<li>More forgiving<\/li>\n<li>More outgoing<\/li>\n<li>Feel less lonely and isolated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-488 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/files\/2020\/11\/gratitude.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"219\" \/>5 Gratitude Journal Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Write it down<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Putting your &#8220;things I am grateful for&#8221; list down on paper is important.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Note three to five things you are grateful for\u00a0<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>This does not have to be a big list.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pause for a moment to imagine what it would be like if these things were not in your life<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Your gratitude becomes crystal clear when you imagine the absence of the good stuff. Just like George Bailey in the film classic &#8220;It&#8217;s a Wonderful Life&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Feel the gratitude for your blessings<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Really &#8230; take a couple breaths to really feel the blessings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do this just once a week!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>It might be hard to get started so here is a jumping off point. Here are some things you might not notice right off the bat that you are most assuredly very grateful for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Indoor plumbing<\/li>\n<li>Hot water<\/li>\n<li>A roof over your head<\/li>\n<li>None of your teeth hurt right now<\/li>\n<li>You have a job<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Below is a host of research supporting practicing gratitude.<\/p>\n<p>Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, your friends, and your families!<\/p>\n<p>Kind regards,<br \/>\nGME Wellness Committee<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Research on Gratitude<\/h2>\n<p>Emmons Lab. (2014, January 27). Gratitude and well-being. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/psychology.ucdavis.edu\/Labs\/emmons\/PWT\/index.cfm?Section=4\">http:\/\/psychology.ucdavis.edu\/Labs\/emmons\/PWT\/index.cfm?Section=4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Emmons, R. A., &amp; McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Personality &amp; Social Psychology, 88, 377-389.<\/p>\n<p>Froh, Jeffrey J., William J. Sefick, and Robert A. Emmons. &#8220;Counting Blessings in Early Adolescents: An Experimental Study of Gratitude and Subjective Well-being.&#8221; Journal of School Psychology 46.2 (2008): 213-33.<\/p>\n<p>Parks , A, C, Della Porta, M. D., Pierce, R. S., Zilca, R., Lyubomirsky, S. (2012). Pursuing happiness in everyday life: The characteristics and behaviors of online happiness seekers. Emotion, 12(6). 1222-1234.<\/p>\n<p>Seligman, M.; Steen, T.A.; Park, N. and Peterson, C. (2005). \u201cPositive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions,\u201d American Psychologist, 60:410-421.<\/p>\n<p>Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., &amp; Schkade, D. (2005) Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131.<\/p>\n<p>Seligman, M.; Steen, T.A.; Park, N. and Peterson, C. (2005). \u201cPositive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions,\u201d American Psychologist, 60:410-421.<\/p>\n<p>Emmons, R. A., &amp; McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Personality &amp; Social Psychology, 88, 377-389.<\/p>\n<p>The Greater Good Science Center at University of California at Berkeley. (2011, November 17). Tips for keeping a gratitude journal. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from <a href=\"http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal\">http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., &amp; Schkade, D. (2005) Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131.<\/p>\n<p>The Greater Good Science Center at University of California at Berkeley. (2011, November 17). Tips for keeping a gratitude journal. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal\">http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Seligman, M.; Steen, T.A.; Park, N. and Peterson, C. (2005). \u201cPositive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions,\u201d American Psychologist, 60:410-421.<\/p>\n<p>Emmons, R. A., &amp; McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Personality &amp; Social Psychology, 88, 377-389.<\/p>\n<p>The Greater Good Science Center at University of California at Berkeley. (2011, November 17). Tips for keeping a gratitude journal. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal\">http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal<\/a><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"twitter-share\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?via=CooperGME\" class=\"twitter-share-button\">Tweet<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even though this Thanksgiving will be very different than other years, we have much to be grateful for. A\u00a0gratitude journal\u00a0is a way to actually see that and to say grace but on paper.\u00a0Gratitude has gained a lot of attention in the field of\u00a0positive psychology and a large body of research suggests it can make us [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-485","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-wellness-wednesday","7":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=485"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":489,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485\/revisions\/489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/lifeatthecoop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}