The Science of Gratitude

THE SCIENCE OF GRATITUDE

November is the month of GRATITUDE! During Stanton Time this week and next, we’ll continue to discuss what gratitude is, what science says about how it impacts our body, our brain, and our relationships, and how we can put it into action.

Here’s a little bit of what I share with students during Stanton Time:
Research suggests that having a regular gratitude practice can have amazing benefits:

• Gratitude opens the door to more relationships – you show appreciation for others – you will have positive connections with people and maybe more and deeper friendships.
• Gratitude improves physical health – Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people.
• Gratitude improves psychological health – Gratitude reduces lots of toxic emotions, from jealousy to frustration, and regret.
• Grateful people sleep better – writing in a gratitude journal before bed increases the length and quality of sleep.
• Gratitude improves how you feel about yourself (self-esteem) – it reduces social comparisons, grateful and proud of who YOU are and what YOU can do.
• Gratitude increases mental strength – not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming obstacles (Psychology Today, 2015).

Students totally bought into this idea. We first filled our “Gratitude Jar” – Who are the people and pets what are the things, ideas, aromas, and foods, where are the places that bring us joy? Students filled their “jars” with these people, pets, places, things, and ideas that will be on display around the building.