[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Benefits of Gratitude

[hosbornejr at gmail.com]

Hi Renae, thank you for this article.
Terry P and I donate to the Wounded Warriors who are at the Walter Reed Army
Hospital all year long through our local churches and crocheting group.
Sorry, that should say knitting and crocheting group.
We make lap blankets, and blanket strips or squares that the women sew
together for blankets.
We know that the Wounded Warriors are so greatful to receive these tokens of
our appreciation for their service to our country.
I will end here by saying that I am the proud Son of my Dad who was a Korean
War vetran.


-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
Of ReNae Anderson via NFB-Krafters-Korner
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2021 3:17 PM
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Cc: mother27dragon at gmail.com
Subject: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Benefits of Gratitude

I found this on a blog for Operation Gratitude and thought I would share.
This fits directly with our Caring & Sharing projects.

 

 

One of the most rewarding aspects of giving back to those that deserve your
gratitude is all the benefits you receive.  There have been numerous studies
over the years that demonstrate the increased quality of life that can come
with expressing your gratitude all year round.



Operation Gratitude CEO Kevin Schmiegel recently shared, "Our nation's
military service members and first responders put their lives on the line to
protect us, and we will do anything we can to help brighten their day, bring
a smile to their faces, and express our gratitude for all that they do. When
the nights get dark earlier and temperatures plummet, there is no better
time to slow down and reflect on things you are grateful for, especially
those heroes among us." 

As you being your new year, reflect on these 3 benefits of gratitude and
join us in saying Thank You to All Who Serve.


Gratitude Improves Psychological Health


Many studies have shown how giving and receiving acts of kindness reduce
negative emotions and increase happiness. 

 
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7701091_Positive_Psychology_Progre
ss_Empirical_Validation_of_Interventions> Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a
psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, tested the impact of various
positive psychology interventions on 411 people, each compared with a
control assignment of writing about early memories.

When their week's assignment was to write and personally deliver a letter of
gratitude to someone who had never been properly thanked for his or her
kindness, participants immediately exhibited a huge increase in happiness
scores.

This impact was greater than any other intervention, with benefits lasting
for a month. 




Gratitude Enhances Empathy


If a person is more grateful and sensitive to what others are going through
like the sacrifice our frontline workers make each day, then there is
increased  understanding and empathy.

Research shows that when you help someone, there's a process that happens in
your brain that releases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin - the 'feel-good'
chemicals that create a "helper's high."  Studies have found that
individuals who show kindness and concern for others had a 23% lower level
of cortisol - the stress hormone - compared to the average person.

Just by showing compassion for someone else you relieve stress. 




Gratitude Improves Physical Health


If you are grateful for the parts of your body that work and support you,
you can see the benefits of trying to stay in shape. 

Paul Mills, a professor of family medicine and public health at the
University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that the more
grateful people were, the healthier they were.  He recruited 186 men and
women, average age 66, who already had some damage to their heart, either
through years of sustained high blood pressure or as a result of heart
attack or even an infection of the heart itself. They each filled out a
standard questionnaire to rate how grateful they felt for the people,
places, or things in their lives. 

The more grateful they were, they had less depressed mood, slept better, and
had more energy.