Positive Energy Tip
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 The Gratitude Visit
In 2004, I took a 32 week class instructed by Martin Seligman, who has been called the father of positive psychology. One of the assignments we had to complete for the course was called the gratitude visit, which has been shown to be the single best intervention for increasing happiness and positive emotion.
The instructions Marty gave us for the assignment were "think of the people- parents, friends, teachers, coaches, teammates, employers, and so on-who have been especially kind to you but have never heard you express your gratitude. Write and rewrite a gratitude letter to one of these individuals, describing why you are grateful. The letter should contain details: name specifics they did for you, and exactly how it affected your life. Tell what you are doing now and how you often remember their efforts. Make it sing!
Then deliver it personally and read the letter aloud to them in their presence. Let the other person react unhurriedly. Reminisce together about
the concrete events that make this person so important to you."
The stories that were told in class following this assignment were amazing, and included accounts of enriching the life of both the giver and the receiver. And a follow-up study showed that individuals who delivered their gratitude letter to the recipient experienced feelings of positive well-being for up to six months after the assignment was completed.
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Energy Challenge
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Write a Letter
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week in the U.S., consider who would be the receiver of a gratitude visit from you. Follow the instructions above to write a gratitude letter and if possible, schedule a time when you can meet with the person to read your letter to them.
Then spend some time reflecting on or writing in your journal your responses to the following questions:
1. How did you feel as you wrote your letter?
2. How did the other person react to your expression of gratitude? And how were you affected by their reaction?
3. How long did these feelings last after you presented your letter?
4. Did you recall the experience in the days that followed the reading of the letter? If so, how did this recollection affect your mood?
5. Have you thought of others with whom you wish to share your gratitude?
I would love to hear from you about your experience with the Gratitude Letter/Visit.
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