I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
G.K. Chesterton
As each year passes and we approach the end of the year, I like to pause and look back on the activities, accomplishments and learnings from the year. During this time of reflecting, I am always moved by how much there is to be grateful for.
Gratitude is something we all have felt. But do you actively practice gratitude? Research in the area of positive psychology suggests that gratitude is foundational to happiness. In his book "Authentic Happiness", Martin Seligman, Ph.D. says "Gratitude amplifies the savoring and appreciation of the good events gone by, and rewriting history by forgiveness loosens the power of the bad events to embitter (and actually can transform bad memories into good ones). Gratitude is a practice that can actually be cultivated. I take a few minutes each night before going to sleep to write down in a journal the things that I am grateful for that day. Research is also beginning to show the relationship between gratitude and our health. The work of Prof. Robert Emmons Professor of Psychology at UC Davis and Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology, shows that cultivating an attitude of gratitude can impact the quality and quantity of our sleep.
As we approach our national holiday for thankfulness, think about the many things in your life for which you are grateful. Be aware of and thankful for the good things that happen to you every day. Begin the practice of cultivating an attitude of gratitude every day, not just once a year.
Mari Ryan, MBA, MHP, CWWPC
