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Apr 21, 2008
"Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world." --Lawrence G. Lovasik
Does Counting Your Blessings Really Help?
While many would agree that "counting your blessings" is a worthwhile practice, there hasn't been much experimental research on whether gratitude really has a positive impact on our lives. Several studies have found that gratitude correlates with positive emotions such as happiness, pride, and hope, but experimental work -- showing that gratitude causes these things -- is scarcer. Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough figured it would be worthwhile to explore this notion. Their method of study was both ingenious and simple: they would ask 201 students in a health psychology class to respond to a weekly questionnaire. Everyone rated their well-being, was tested on a measure of gratefulness, and reported on their physical health and level of exercise.
BE THE CHANGE
In an interview with Sacred Journey magazine, senior Benedictine Monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, considered an authority on gratefulness, shares his deep experience on practicing gratitude. More ...
