The Amazing Benefits of Diligent Thankfulness

The Benefits of Being Diligently Thankful

By diligent is meant regularly listing, reflecting, and focusing on specific items, actions, inventions, experiences in nature,with people, places,or articles (anything). Those who make a daily practice of consciously calling to mind, remembering, and even writing down, what they are grateful for were healthier and happier:

They felt better about their lives as a whole.
They were more optimistic.
They were more energetic.
They were more enthusiastic.
They were more determined.
They were more interested.
They were more joyful.
They felt stronger about handling challenges.
They exercised more (nearly an hour and a half more per week).
They had fewer illnesses.
They got more sleep.
They made more [progress toward important personal goals.
They were more likely to have helped someone else.
They were perceived by others to be m0ore generous and helpful.
They were less envious of those with more possessions.
They were less cluttered.

Other benefits:

Clearer thinking—more creativity and openness to ideas.
Better resilience during tough times.
Higher immune response.
Less likelihood of being plagued by stress.
Longer lives.
Closer family ties.
Greater religiousness.

From Thank You Power by Deborah Norville, pp.24 & 25.

Dr. Robert Emmons from University of California at _______who is the leading research professor on the subject of gratitude will be speaking at the 2009 Care and Kindness Conference,in March.