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Gratitude: It’s Good For What Ails Ya
By Alan Roby | November 26, 2008
I can hear you out there. “Thanksgiving week—and here’s another story about gratitude [yawn].” Yet given the research that has shown the very real psycho- and biological benefits of reflecting on that for which one is grateful, you might be—dare I say it?—grateful for this opportunity!
When we are feeling Lost in Corporate America (i.e., dissatisfied with the work that we are doing with little expectation that things will improve), we actually have available a tool that we can employ every day, multiple times a day, that is virtually guaranteed to have us feeling better. And no, it’s not vodka.
What it is is gratitude.
In 2003, psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough conducted the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving. What they learned is that gratitude is good for you. In an experimental comparison, several hundred people in three different groups were required to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day, while the second group recorded only their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.
The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. You can read more about the healthful effects of gratitude here.
So please take time this week to reflect on what you are grateful for. If it in fact includes your job, wonderful. If not, that’s fine too. Notice the effect that being consciously grateful has on your body and state of mind. Know that establishing a gratitude practice is a relatively simple way of experiencing this on a regular basis. And imagine what might be possible if you in fact did experience this feeling consistently! What actions might you be more willing to take towards defining and then finding or creating your unique version of meaningful work?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Topics: Authenticity, Creativity, Simplicity |