Research says …
Scientific proof shows that, when people engage in a regular practice of gratitude, they experience a great amount of physical, psychological, and interpersonal benefits. In some instances, people have said that their practice of gratitude led to transformative life changes. And, even more significant, friends, relatives, coworkers, and partners in the lives of those who practice gratitude reported that they seem visibly more content and more enjoyable to be around.
Psychologist, Dr. Robert A. Emmons, from the University of California, Davis, and his colleagues, conducted a study using three separate groups of participants to examine the effects of practicing gratitude on a regular basis.
The first group was asked to keep a gratitude journal, the second was asked to record any daily hassles they experienced, and the third was asked to report neutral events that occurred in their daily lives.The result showed that, the people in the group who practiced gratitude on a regular basis were:
- less likely to experience negative physical symptoms
- felt better about their lives as a whole
- were more positive
- looked forward to the approaching week than the other two groups.
