So this week I was challenged in the area of gratitude. I was challenged to be intentional in practicing it. Let\u2019s face it. Grateful people are not grumpy people. And it\u2019s no fun being grumpy.<\/p>\n
Take not my word for it. Take Harvard\u2019s\u2026<\/p>\n
Twelve years ago, three postdoctoral fellows who were concerned about the anxiety and depression that heart disease can set off designed the Cardiac Psychiatry Research Program at Harvard Medical School.<\/p>\n
As reported earlier this year in the Harvard Gazette:<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients set for discharge attend an in-person training session and receive a manual with eight to 16 weeks of daily exercises. These exercises include writing letters of gratitude, performing acts of kindness, and reflecting on past successes. Participants also receive a weekly phone call from one of the program\u2019s five trainers, who reviews the previous week, reinforces the positive message, and encourages exercise and other goals.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018I try to emphasize gratitude: Think of three positive events during the week, small or large,\u2019 said Carol Mastromauro, a social worker and trainer who has been with the program from the start. \u2018I ask people to practice that if they\u2019re sitting in a traffic jam. In a way, it\u2019s kind of homework. Give yourself a breather, take a mini-vacation.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n The three studies conducted by the program so far have highlighted its ability to improve patient outlooks, Huffman said. Three more now underway are testing the link between a positive mental attitude and health.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018What we\u2019ve learned so far \u2014 small but important steps \u2014 is that if we ask patients to learn how to identify the good things in their life \u2014 write a letter of gratitude, imagine a better future, do acts of kindness \u2014 people with heart disease and other chronic illnesses are willing to sign up for the studies, willing to do the interventions and feel better when they do, with increased happiness, decreased anxiety, decreased depression,\u2019 Huffman said. \u2018We feel pretty confident about that.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Note the effects of a grateful life… identifying the good things… intentionally thanking and focusing on others… A grateful life may even actually help us live longer.<\/p>\n And yet, expressing gratitude for what we already have seems so countercultural to a society that is always pushing us for something \u201cmore\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026 more money\u2026 But what would it change if we looked at what we had as enough?<\/p>\n What would it change \u2014 not that we need to stop striving, seeking, and finding \u2014 but what would it change if our focus was less on our stuff and less on our self but more thankful for what’s in our life and for others?<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t that the reality?<\/p>\n Grumpiness is often self-focused.<\/em><\/p>\n I mean no disrespect, friends. I mean, I can be grumpy with the best of them.<\/p>\n But more often than not, when I am grumpy, it\u2019s usually because of something I<\/em> don\u2019t like or I\u2019m<\/em> frustrated with or I\u2019m<\/em> mad about or choose to show no grace or patience or empathy for. Grumpy is thus often based on \u201cme.\u201d When I\u2019m grumpy, I\u2019m not generous with my gratitude… my grace either.<\/p>\n Today \u2014 aware of the holiday season ahead of us \u2014 why don\u2019t we intentionally choose gratitude?<\/p>\n Sounds like it\u2019d be good for our health.<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 So this week I was challenged in the area of gratitude. I was challenged to be intentional in practicing it. Let\u2019s face it. Grateful people are not grumpy people. And it\u2019s no fun being grumpy. Take not my word for it. Take Harvard\u2019s\u2026 Twelve years ago, three postdoctoral fellows who were concerned about the anxiety … <\/p>\n
\n\u2026 more success\u2026
\n\u2026 more power\u2026
\n\u2026 more offense\u2026
\n\u2026 more influence\u2026<\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"