![]() After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. In one study, they asked all participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics. McCullough of the University of Miami, have done much of the research on gratitude. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Regardless of the inherent or current level of someone's gratitude, it's a quality that individuals can successfully cultivate further. They can apply it to the past (retrieving positive memories and being thankful for elements of childhood or past blessings), the present (not taking good fortune for granted as it comes), and the future (maintaining a hopeful and optimistic attitude). People feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. ![]() ![]() As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals - whether to other people, nature, or a higher power. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. In some ways, gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). But what about those who just feel lost or overwhelmed or down at this time of year? Research (and common sense) suggests that one aspect of the Thanksgiving season can actually lift the spirits, and it's built right into the holiday - being grateful. Certainly, major depression or a severe anxiety disorder benefits most from professional help. However, for many this time of year is tinged with sadness, anxiety, or depression. Each holiday season comes with high expectations for a cozy and festive time of year.
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