A “Thank-You” a Day Can Keep the Doctor Away
“Thank you..”
“I appreciate that…”
These are simple words and gestures that are often overlooked & forgotten in our “me” oriented society.
These gestures are more than good manners; they have a definite positive impact on our mind & body.
The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude take the time to notice and reflect upon the things they’re thankful for. They experience increased positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems!
Both ancient teachings and modern medical research agree that one of the quickest, most direct routes to restoring harmony and balance in our lives is to foster gratitude and appreciation. The moment you shift from a mind state of negativity or judgment to one of appreciation, there are immediate effects at many levels of your being: Brain function becomes more balanced, harmonized, and supple; your heart begins to pump in a much more coherent and harmonious rhythm; and biochemical changes trigger a host of healthful responses throughout your body. Especially in difficult times, remembering to return to gratitude is a radical life-affirming act that builds your capacity for resilience. [ᔥ http//www.huffingtonpost.com/joel-michelle-levey/understanding-gratitude_b_888208.htmll]
Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes for you.Anthony Robbins
Below is a fascinating video from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley—in collaboration with the University of California, Davis. They launched a $5.6 million, three-year project: Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude.
The video is about 12 minutes long and has some technical jargon, so I’ve summarized it below:
In recent times, people have dismissed gratitude and appreciation as simple, obvious, and unworthy of serious attention. But recently scientists have begun to study the impact on our mind (psychology) & body (physiology) and have uncovered some fascinating results.
They’re finding that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:
At a biological (body) level, we find that people who are higher in gratitude have:
- Lower resting blood pressure, and when exposed to a stressor, they also respond with lower blood pressure responses.
- Their blood screened for good cholesterol & bad cholesterol showed, that the higher levels of gratitude were related to higher levels of good cholesterol and lower levels of bad cholesterol.
- Lower levels of creatinine (which is an indicator of how well the kidneys are functioning).
- The most exciting part showed some preliminary positive impact of gratitude & appreciation on heart health, whichwas based on observation of marker cells (called endo philia progenitor cells).
And at a emotional (mind) level:
- Higher levels of positive emotions.
- More joy, optimism, and happiness.
- Acting with more generosity and compassion.
- Feeling less lonely and isolated.
