The Argument for Gratitude

I'm so grateful for everything you've ever given me

How can I explain what it means to be loved by you

By you, loved by you, loved by you

“Gratitude” by Paul McCartney

The more one explores gratitude – its benefits, uses, and practices – the more unfolds. Like one of those nestled dolls, every time you open one you find another deeper inside. Gratitude is similar and different. It is the same because engaging in practices of gratitude is an ever-deepening process. It is constantly enriching. It is different because nestling dolls don’t appear on every street corner and I imagine some are quite expensive, while opportunities to be grateful surround us constantly and are freely available.

I have talked about the unearned gifts that are available to each of us; the blessings we have found through the challenges our grandson Grayson , and therefore his parents, have faced; the gift of time with my dad; the gratitude I experience through my five senses ; and the profound appreciation I have for friends who have helped me find gratefulness in my own life.

But don’t take it from me. Today I will share more support, this time (mostly) in the form of numbers, that grateful living can enrich our lives in various ways.

There is more and increasing evidence that gratitude can benefit our lives. For a comprehensive look, The Science of Gratitude White Paper which the Greater Good Science Center put together, will keep you busy for quite a while. You may be amazed at the research that is being conducted.

Here, I am just going to give a few statistics I found in the Little Book of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons, who is one of the leading researchers in the field. This nifty, inexpensive little book is full of exercises and information about gratitude, and I almost always toss it in my bag when I’m going places for a quick reminder if I need it. Perhaps this information found in the book will pique your interest about gratitude.

From Little Book of Gratitude by Robert A. Emmons:

“A 2015 article in the popular journal Scientific American reported that, out of 24 strengths, including such powerhouses as love, hope, kindness, and creativity, the single best predictor of good relationships and emotional wellbeing was gratitude ” (italics added) (p. 7).

“Numerous psychological, physical, and social benefits are associated with gratitude. A host of recent studies have examined its effects on health and wellbeing, and these clinical trials, laboratory experiments, and large-scale surveys have revealed that the practice of gratitude has dramatic, lasting, and positive results: every time.

• Keeping a gratitude diary for two weeks produced sustained reductions in perceived stress (28 percent) and depression (16 percent) in health-care practitioners.
  
• Gratitude is related to 23 percent lower levels of stress hormones (cortisol).
  
• Dietary fat intake is reduced by as much as 25 percent when people keep a gratitude journal.
  
• Writing a letter of gratitude reduced feelings of hopelessness in 88 percent of suicidal inpatients and increased levels of optimism in 94 percent of them.
  
• Gratitude is related to a 10 percent improvement in sleep quality in patients with chronic pain (76 percent of whom has insomnia) and 19 percent lower depression levels.
  
• Gratitude empowers us to take charge of our emotional lives and, as a consequence, our bodies reap the benefits. As a treatment, gratitude is cost effective, quick, and available to everyone. There are no known negative side effects. It is not a cure-all, of course, but it can significantly enhance the effects of conventional medical treatments” (pp. 20-21).

Establishing practices for grateful living is one path leading to profound living every day. The more grateful we are, the more we are likely to express our thanks to others, to other living creatures, to the Earth which has given us so many gifts, and to the universe which extends far beyond ourselves and our ability to understand. Today, however, right here in this moment “Gratitude is the gateway to joy”.

References:

The Science of Gratitude White Paper prepared for the John Templeton Foundation by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. http://bit.ly/2JxG4Ej

Emmons, Robert A., The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a life of happiness and wellbeing by giving thanks , Octopus Books.

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