by Robert Emmons
Takeaways
The Facts
- People who practice gratitude experience stronger immune systems, are less bothered by aches and pains, have lower blood pressure, exercise more, and sleep longer. They are also happier and more helpful.
- Gratitude is a social emotion that strengthens relationships.
- Gratitude helps us figure out where the goodness in our life comes from.
- Gratitude lets us celebrate the present, blocks negative emotions, resist stress, and develop higher senses of self-worth.
- Gratitude isn’t easy! It goes against the self-serving bias of attributing good things to our own doings and blaming bad things on others.
Solutions
- Keep a gratitude journal!
- Use concrete reminders to practice gratitude, like developing routines and incorporating them into daily life.
Reflection
Because of Flourishing, I started a gratitude journal for the first time. Like anything, it seemed as if it would be easy. However, what it did was challenge me. It made me realize that there are so many things that I should be grateful for but that I never took the time to appreciate. But the effort pays off. Thanks to being thankful, I feel stronger connections with the people around me and am more willing to make new relationships.
