If you want to get healthier, give thanks.
Benefits of Gratitude
Grateful people -- those who perceive gratitude as a permanent trait rather
than a temporary state of mind -- have an edge on the not-so-grateful when it
comes to health, according to Emmons' research on gratitude. "Grateful
people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health
behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet, regular physical
examinations," Emmons tells WebMD.
Immune Booster
Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that
researchers say boosts the immune system. "There are some very interesting
studies linking optimism to better immune function," says Lisa Aspinwall,
PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Utah. In one, researchers
comparing the immune systems of healthy, first-year law students under stress
found that, by midterm, students characterized as optimistic (based on survey
responses) maintained higher numbers of blood cells that protect the immune
system, compared with their more pessimistic classmates.
Optimism also has a positive health impact on people with compromised
health. In separate studies, patients confronting AIDS, as well as those
preparing to undergo surgery, had better health outcomes when they maintained
attitudes of optimism.
Cultivating Gratitude
Income level is by no means the only measure of satisfaction with one's lot
in life. "There tends to be higher levels of optimism among people who have
faced losses early in life, suggesting that adversity can promote personal
growth over time," Aspinwall tells WebMD. But you don't have to wait for a
tragedy to grow your feelings of gratitude. You can start today. Here's
how:
- Maintain a gratitude journal. Emmons' research showed that people who keep
gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercise more regularly, report fewer
physical symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and maintain
greater optimism about the future.
- Create a list of benefits in your life and ask yourself, "To what
extent do I take these for granted?" Some people need such concrete visual
reminders to maintain mindfulness of their gratitude, explains Emmons.
- Talk to yourself in a creative, optimistic, and appreciate manner, suggests
Sam Quick, PhD, of the University of Kentucky. This could entail simply
reflecting on things for which you're grateful or, if you're facing a
challenging situation, seeing how it can ultimately be beneficial. For
instance, having to cope with particularly difficult people in your job or
neighborhood can improve your patience and understanding.
- Reframe a situation by looking at it with a different, more positive
attitude, offers Quick. He provides this example: Rather than seeing his
6-year-old daughter as cranky, irritable, and troublesome, a father might reach
the conclusion that the youngster is tired and needs rest.
Not convinced these simple gratitude-enhancing strategies can improve your
overall health and well-being? "Try it out for yourself. What's the
alternative? I think gratitude is the best approach to life," Emmons
says.
Resource:http://women.webmd.com/features/gratitute-health-boost
