The Mindful Attitude of Gratitude by Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Mindful Attitude of Gratitude 8
Jon Kabat-Zinn
What is the Mindful Attitude of Gratitude?
The mindful attitude of gratitude. As the study of happiness and emotional well-being gains popularity. In a psychological and scientific study (it has long been popular in the fields of religion and philosophy).
There is increasing research on the nature of gratitude. This includes its causes. Its potential consequences for health and mental/emotional well-being. First, we will review recent findings on the relationship between gratitude and health. Then outline some ways to increase the experience and expression of gratitude in your life.
Gratitude Research
Researchers like Martin Seligman are turning their attention to the study of gratitude. Its relationship to health and mental well-being.
People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis have been found to:
- exercise more regularly
- have fewer physical symptoms
- feel better about their lives as a whole
- feel more optimistic about their upcoming week
Compared to those who keep journals recording the stressors or neutral events of their lives.
Daily discussion of gratitude results in higher reported levels of:
- energy
- alertness
- enthusiasm
- determination
- attentiveness
- sleep duration and quality
Grateful people also report lower levels of depression and stress. But they do not deny or ignore the negative aspects of life.
People who think about, talk about or write about gratitude daily. Are more likely to help others. This may be having helped someone with a personal problem. Or offered emotional support to another person.
Emerging research suggests. That daily gratitude practice may have some preventative benefits in warding off coronary artery disease.
How does mindful attitude gratitude work?
Mindful attitude gratitude – You might be asking yourself how this all works. There is a complex relationship between. Our thoughts, moods, brain chemistry, endocrine function, and functioning of other physiological systems in our bodies. While an in-depth discussion of this relationship is beyond the scope of this article. Our thoughts can actually trigger physiological changes in our bodies. That affects our mental and physical health.
With the mindfulness attitudes gratitude. What you think affects how you feel (both emotionally and physically). So if you increase your positive thoughts, like gratitude. You can increase your subjective sense of well-being. Also, objective measures of physical health (like fewer symptoms of illness and increased immune functioning).
There are some very simple ways. To increase your experience and expression of gratitude. For example, you might begin to keep a gratitude journal. Gratitude journals can take many forms. One way of doing this is to simply write down one thing that you are grateful for each day.
It can be something that happened that day. Something you felt. Or someone in your life who has made a positive impact on you.
More Mindful Attitude Gratitude
Alternatively (or additionally), you can speak your expressions of gratitude. You can engage a friend or romantic partner. In a daily discussion about what you are grateful for. This might take the form of questions like, “What was the best part of your day today?”. Or “Is there one thing that made you feel really happy today?” This kind of discussion helps to increase your own awareness of all that you have to be grateful for.
It can also promote positive connections and experiences in your relationships. For example, instead of having dinner with a friend or partner and talking about all the stressors of your day. Gratitude leads you both to focus on the positive things. This in turn helps the stressors feel less significant. It helps you feel happier when around your friend or partner. Basically, gratitude promotes gratitude.
Practice the mindful attitude of gratitude. If you find that you’re very busy and unable to stick to a regular gratitude practice. When you train yourself to notice things. At the moment, that you are thankful for. They can be small things. Like your lunch is tasty. Or a good friend said something nice to you, etc.
It is easy to take these kinds of experiences for granted. Rather than direct our conscious awareness to them. By training in mindful attitudes. We start to notice these kinds of things and really feel grateful. It will increase your own experience of happiness.
Source- The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
More Mindfulness- https://themindfulcoach.com/
Respectfully,
Heidi & Ross
Please, BookMark. 🙂
G Ross Clark C.C.P.,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada,
Email- TheMindfulCoach@gmail.com,
Training- MBSRtraining.com