Why Expressing Gratitude is Proven to Make You Stronger
by www.Sedona.com
With the holidays fast approaching, it’s a perfect time to stop and think about what you’re thankful for. Chances are it’s been awhile since you’ve done so. Yet, expressing gratitude is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental well-being, and the more you do it, the more benefits you’ll receive.
Most people say that they are, in fact, grateful, according to “The Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness” by researchers from the University of Miami and the University of California, Davis.
But with the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the many positive things that happen to you, and even take them for granted -- particularly if you’re having a bad or stressful day.
This is why keeping an actual gratitude journal, or gratitude list, is especially beneficial. Quite simply, it forces you to really think about all the good things in your life, and writing them down really reinforces in your mind the positive things around you.
Here we’ve compiled some of the many reasons why you should make expressing gratitude a priority in your life. According to “Highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness”:
- People who kept a gratitude journal on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole and were more optimistic than those who wrote down neutral events or struggles.
- People who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward their goals in a two-month period.
- Grateful people report feeling higher life satisfaction, vitality and positive emotions, and lower levels of depression and stress.
- Grateful people are described as more generous and helpful by those in their social networks.
Writing down everything that you’re thankful for on a daily or weekly basis is a great way to keep things in perspective, and focus on what really matters.
But there is another tool you can use that will not only help you to be thankful when things are good, but also when they’re bad. It’s called “letting go,” and you can learn how to do this simply with the scientifically proven Sedona Method.
“Gratitude is a natural outcome of letting go,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “The more you let go, the more you feel grateful for everything.”
“You feel grateful for the good because you are open to and thankful for the source that has brought those good things into your life. You also feel grateful for what you would label as ‘bad’ because it gives you opportunities to learn and grow,” he continues. “Lester Levenson, the founder of The Sedona Method, used to thank those who opposed him because it gave him an opportunity to love more deeply.”
Giving to others is also an excellent way to reinforce your feelings of gratitude. In fact, Dwoskin says, “when you give to others without expectation this naturally causes your heart to open, and you are filled with great compassion and gratitude. Truly the giver is blessed.”
As you get ready for the rush of the holiday season, please make a point to focus on all that you’re thankful for. And show your appreciation to your friends and loved ones by giving them their own copy of The Sedona Method, so they, too, can enjoy the natural gratefulness that comes when you introduce releasing into your life. It’s a holiday gift that will last a lifetime.
Source
Highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness
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