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“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melodie Beattie
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For many of us, Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday during which we rush to join family, braving hordes in the airport or on the roads. It is easy to lose the meaning of the holiday: that it is a time to reflect and experience thankfulness.
Did you know that giving thanks reduces feelings of depression?
Martin Seligman, a well-known psychologist who studies the art and science of being happy, has found that daily reflections on gratitude can significantly improve your mood and alleviate depression. In one study, after just two weeks, 94% of subjects reported a decrease in depression after conducting a daily thankfulness exercise Seligman calls “The Three Blessings.”
Here’s how you conduct this happiness-building exercise: each evening, before bed, write down three things that you feel grateful for. The items or events may be large or small. Good weather, talking with a friend or eating a delicious meal are as legitimate as thankfulness for your career, your children or your partner. The exercise is especially useful if you focus on your role in creating the chosen event.
For example, instead of writing “I am grateful that my class went well today,” you might write “I am grateful that I taught a successful class today.” Instead of “I’m grateful to be an academic because it gives me a great deal of flexibility in my schedule,” write “I’m grateful that I’ve chosen a career that gives me flexibility in my schedule.”
All too often we focus on the challenges and stresses of our daily life instead of the aspects that are positive. Consciously cultivating our thankfulness can increase our happiness.
This holiday week, try counting your blessings. You’ll be thankful you did.
Happy holidays,
Mary
P.S. You can learn more about Martin Seligman, and take questionnaires to measure your levels of happiness, at his Authentic Happiness web site.
If you want to learn more about Seligman and the cultivation of a gratifying life, I highly recommend his books "Authentic Happiness" and "Learned Optimism."
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