An Attitude of Gratitude
By Amy Sherman, LMHC

If you want to add an exciting new dimension to your life and boost your overall health, well-being and happiness, the following may be just what you need.

The University of California, Davis recently published a series of studies on the nature of gratitude and how it impacts your life in so many positive ways. Here are the results of the research:

1. If you keep a gratitude journal, listing all the things you are grateful for in your life, you will find you have less to complain about, have a more optimistic view on things and experience fewer physical symptoms.

2. When you are attuned to all the good you have, you are more likely to progress toward your personal goals and achieve them.

3. If you practice gratitude exercises daily, you experience higher states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy than those who focus on daily hassles or boring events.

4. Those who recognize and acknowledge personal gratitude are more likely to help others with personal problems and be even more grateful for the blessings in their lives.

5. When you focus on things for which you are grateful, you reduce your stress levels and reduce your need to compare yourself to others. Those that are financially better off than you will then inspire you and those who have less will remind you of how truly rich and lucky you are.

6. The more grateful you are, the less depressed you feel and the better you take care of yourself.

7. Grateful people have a stronger belief in the interconnectedness of all life, which is not at all related to any religious affiliation or faith.
By spending a few minutes each day reflecting on the positive aspects of your life, you develop a new and automatic habit that will give you a greater feeling of emotional well-being and life satisfaction. Ask yourself, “To what degree do I take these wonderful things in my life for granted?” and then keep these concrete reminders in your mind at all times. Think of it this way — there are tens of thousands of bad things you are not experiencing right now that you can say, thank you thank you for my gifts and blessings. “If the only prayer you say in your whole life is “Thank you,” that would suffice” (Meister Eckhart).

Amy Sherman is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice. She is the author of the ebook, “Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer’s Guide to Creating a Fulfilled and Purposeful Life” and “The Joy of Optimism” 10-Lesson eCourse. Go to http://www.bummedoutboomer.com to sign up for her free ezine and to receive a Special Report on Overcoming Adversity. Amy can be reached at amy@bummedoutboomer.com or 561-281-2975.