Research has shown that people who tend to be more grateful are also more likely to engage in other health-promoting behaviors, including exercising, following their doctor’s recommendations and sticking to a healthier lifestyle.
Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and a leading expert on the science of gratitude, said the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects on a person’s life.
“Setting aside time on a daily basis to recall moments of gratitude associated with ordinary events, your personal attributes, or valued people in your life gives you the potential to interweave a sustainable life theme of gratefulness,” he suggests.
This month, Family & Children’s Services enters a season of gratitude with reflections from staff and clients. It is so easy to focus on the negatives during difficult times, but even on our hardest days, daily gratitude practice trains our minds to look for the good in every day and helps us become more resilient.
