Wednesday, April 10, 2024

The Psychology Report-Blog #41, Dr. Allan Hedberg-Gratitude in the Making Starting Today

 THE PSYCHOLOGY REPORT BLOG - #41

                                                                

Gratitude in the Making Starting Today


How does one learn gratitude behavior and uses it appropriately?  Gratitude is a vital aspect of maturity and effective social conduct.  Advancement in life, socially, occupationally, and even educationally, depends on our ability to express gratitude and receive it gracefully. 


How to sharpen your gratitude skills by using this toolbox of actions……


1.  Keeping a daily gratitude journal for at least one month..

2.  Making lists of things for which you are grateful such as family, friends, activities in which you are involved, and your career.

3.  Writing thank you notes.

4.  Helping others even in small ways.

4.  Regularly and verbally express thankfulness to those with whom you associate.

5.  Find small things for which to be thankful and pause and take time to mentally reflect on why you are thankful.  Do it while taking a walk, for example.


What are the benefits of gratitude?  


1.  Improved sleep.

2.  Dealing with disease.

3.  Lowers inflammation.

4.  Strengthens cardiovascular health.

5.  Reduces depression.

6.  Improves mood.

7.  Reduces anxiety.

8.  Increases positive feelings and emotions. 

9.  Reduces negative thinking such as worrying and rumination.


One researcher put it this way – “Gratitude is a light, an expression, not necessarily conditioned to good times, making it possible to maintain the feeling of goodness, even during negative experiences or most difficult moments.”  


Lastly, our world would be exponentially better, if we all were a little more grateful for what we have and the opportunities we enjoy each day…………


Allan G. Hedberg, Ph.D 

Clinical Psychology

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