Astounding Discovery--Gratitude

I was visiting Tara today and wanted to check on Jacob, since he had his tonsils out yesterday. He seems to be doing well, and experienced some discomfort where the incisions were where the tonsils were cauterized and removed. Children are so resilient at his age,(7) and seem to heal quickly. He enjoyed the colored markers, color pencils, stencils, and stationary from Tracie and me. We gave him some popsicles that were different than the twin kind. He liked those too.

While I was there, Tara mentioned an article about the subject of Gratitude. She was so interested in a study that a Dr. Robert Emmons and his colleague, Michael McCullough did for a research project about gratitude. I was fascinated by some the findings, and she shared with me an article she had printed. She also said she ordered the book that was the results of the study.

I appreciated her sharing, since I know Tara doesn't have a lot of time to read other things and this was outstanding enough for her to buy the book and tell me about it.

Thanks, Tara.

Here is the article:

ACF completed story production on 12/31/2006 -->


Gratitude Theory</span>
The Osgood File (CBS Radio Network): 7/12/02
The Osgood File (CBS Radio Network): 12/19/01




Researchers find the virtues of gratitude include good health.

"In recent years, many scientists have begun examining the links between religion and good health, both physical and mental. Now two psychologists are working to unlock the puzzle of how faith might promote happiness. Dr. Michael McCullough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, say their initial scientific study indicates that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being.

From Cicero to Buddha, many philosophers and spiritual teachers have celebrated gratitude. The world's major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hindu, prize gratitude as a morally beneficial emotional state that encourages reciprocal kindness. Pastors, priests, parents and grandparents have long extolled the virtues of gratitude, but until recently, scholars have largely ignored it as a subject of scientific inquiry.

McCullough and Emmons were curious about why people involved in their faith seem to have more happiness and a greater sense of well-being than those who aren't and decided to study the connections. After making initial observations and compiling all the previous research on gratitude, they conducted the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving. The study required several hundred people in three different groups to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day, while the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCullough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.

"McCullough says these results also seem to show that gratitude works independently of faith. Though gratitude is a substantial part of most religions, he says the benefits extend to the general population, regardless of faith or lack thereof. In light of his research, McCullough suggests that anyone can increase their sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting their blessings."

My Commentary--

There is some truth in our own ability to recognize our own situations of gratitude and how we view them on a day to day routine. It is either learned from childhood or are discovered later in life by experiences that mold our thinking. I think the former is much easier as recognized at an early age, than to be tried into become more thankful later. Read or research if you like to know more....I want to know more, that is for sure. I have a theory. The more we are THANKFUL the more we are given and received. it is called reciprocity. God is so good to his children who remember to thank him regularly than those who have to be reminded by outside sources.

I know God hears our prayers of thanksgiving. I hear them everyday as Ella, Parker or Aislyn give their thanks for simple things in their childlike prayers. It is so sweet and I embrace their child-like faith and the love Father has for each of them and me.