Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

 The Big 12 of Gratitude Thanksgiving is more than turkey and pumpkin pie — it’s a reminder of something deeper: gratitude. But here’s the secret… you don’t have to wait for the holiday table to enjoy its benefits. Gratitude isn’t just a religious practice or a polite “thank you.” It’s a mindset that changes how we see the world, and science shows it can transform our lives. Why Gratitude Matters 1. Across cultures and faiths, gratitude is celebrated as a virtue. 2. Psychologists describe it as a positive emotion directed toward those who give us gifts or kindness. 3. For people of faith, gratitude often points back to God. For everyone else, it’s simply a way of recognizing the good in life. Either way, gratitude is powerful — and it pays off in ways you might not expect. Ad. Read more about Gratitude and Faith in Chapter 4 of Living Well Buy on AMAZON The Big 12 Blessings of Gratitude Grateful people tend to experience: 1. More positive emotions 2. Greater life satisf...

  Can expressing thanks really make a difference in your life? A classic and oft cited study suggests the act of writing about things we are thankful or grateful for is good for us. Here’s a summary of what Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough found in a sample of 192 college students— mostly women (147). The Research Method The students were divided into three experimental groups at the beginning of a quarter. The students completed 10 weekly reports. The three groups: 1. Gratitude . They were asked to think about last week and write down 5 things that they were grateful or thankful for. 2. Hassles . The researchers explained that hassles are things that are irritating. They were to think about what happened today and list up to 5 hassles. 3. Events . The students were asked to think about the past week and write 5 events that impacted them. How the researchers measured change in the participants—what the participants did. 1. They rated their feelings using 3...