The day after Halloween, the rush and busyness of the Christmas season descend upon us, leaving little time or energy for practicing the meaning of the forgotten holiday. Thanksgiving should be forgotten no longer! It is a day that allows us to pause and express gratitude for the things and people in our life. In that spirit, many people spend the month of November giving daily reports on social media to reflect what they are thankful for. This is a transformative exercise, because gratitude can change your life.
Gratitude is not an "attitude". It is a practice, an intentional tuning of our attention, and a habit of reflecting on what we have received. Gratitude prompts us to focus on "enoughness", which is the idea that we have been given everything we need for the present moment.
3 Ways that Gratitude can Change Your Life
1. Gratitude can Change your Life by Improving your Relationships.
John Gottman, one of the leading researchers on marriage, has found that gratitude acts as an antidote to contempt and criticism in a relationship. Couples who look for what is going well and express this to their partner have lower levels of defensiveness and more positive communication. Other researchers have found that couples who express gratitude report feeling closer to each other and more satisfied in their relationship, and the more grateful couples are, the more likely they were to be in the relationship 9 months later.
Do you want to feel closer and more connected to your partner? Express gratitude.
2. Gratitude can Change your Life by Improving your Business.
Researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania conducted research on gratitude by dividing university fund raisers into two groups. One group made phone calls to university alum soliciting donations the same way they always had. The second group was told by the director of giving how grateful she was for their efforts in fund-raising before they started their work day. The group who was given the message of gratitude made 50% more fund raising calls than those who did not.
Want to improve productivity in those who work for you? Tell them thank you.
A 2015 study showed that collective gratitude has a positive impact on businesses. Researchers found that gratitude can reduce turnover, foster employees’ organizational commitment, lead to positive business outcomes, and help in reducing and eliminating negative workplace emotions such as envy, anger, and greed.
Want to improve your business environment and productivity? Express gratitude.
3. Gratitude can Change your Life by Improving your Health.
The research on this is clear and abundant. Gratitude is proven to create better sleep, less depression, less fatigue, more self-efficacy, a lower cellular inflammatory index, and improved cardiac function. One study found that practicing gratitude can lower aches and pains, and that grateful people are more likely to take better care of themselves through exercise and regular check ups. Gratitude has been found to create improved blood flow to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls eating, drinking, sleeping, and stress hormone. So, people who express gratitude actually change their brain to improve sleep, lower depression, and reduce stress.
Want to improve your health? Express gratitude.
This is a busy time of year, and many of us have already turned our thoughts and plans towards Christmas. But don't skip over Thanksgiving too quickly. It's a holiday capable of changing your brain, improving your business productivity, and strengthening your relationships.
-- ICT Center, written by Erin Osbeck, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor