{"id":12721,"date":"2020-07-02T12:05:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T16:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starr-commonwealth-new.local\/?p=12721"},"modified":"2020-07-02T12:05:55","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T16:05:55","slug":"self-care-gratitude-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starr.org\/2020\/self-care-gratitude-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Care: Gratitude Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There is a great deal of research that supports the effectiveness of expressing gratitude.<\/span> Gratitude<\/span> has<\/span> been<\/span> shown<\/span> to<\/span> help<\/span> you<\/span> make<\/span> friends<\/span>. One stu<\/span>dy<\/span> found<\/span> that<\/span> if<\/span> you<\/span> thank<\/span> someone<\/span>,<\/span> even<\/span> an<\/span> acquaintance<\/span>,<\/span> they're<\/span> more<\/span> likely<\/span> to<\/span> seek<\/span> a<\/span> deeper<\/span> relationship<\/span> with<\/span> you<\/span>.<\/span> Gratitude has<\/span> even<\/span> been<\/span> shown<\/span> to<\/span> fix<\/span> your<\/span> physical<\/span> health<\/span>.<\/span> People<\/span> who<\/span> show<\/span> gratitude<\/span> report<\/span> less<\/span> aches<\/span> and<\/span> pains<\/span> and<\/span> a<\/span> general<\/span> feeling<\/span> of<\/span> better<\/span> health<\/span>.<\/span> Grateful<\/span> people<\/span> also<\/span> enjoy<\/span> a<\/span> higher<\/span> rate<\/span> of well-being<\/span> and<\/span> happiness<\/span> and<\/span>\u00a0suffer<\/span> from<\/span> less<\/span> symptoms<\/span> of<\/span> depression<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We<\/span> know<\/span> gratitude<\/span> enhances<\/span> our<\/span> feelings<\/span> of<\/span> empathy<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> those<\/span> who<\/span> show<\/span> gratitude<\/span> are<\/span> more<\/span> likely<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> more<\/span> forgiving<\/span> and<\/span> more<\/span> likely<\/span> to<\/span> behave<\/span> in a more socially <\/span>sensitive<\/span> manner<\/span>.<\/span> Gratitude has<\/span> even<\/span> been<\/span> shown<\/span> to<\/span> help<\/span> people<\/span> sleep<\/span> better<\/span>.<\/span> People<\/span> who<\/span> are<\/span> grateful and<\/span> appreciate<\/span> other<\/span> people's<\/span> achievements<\/span> are<\/span> more<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> appreciate<\/span> their<\/span> own<\/span> achievements<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There's several<\/span> options<\/span> for<\/span> how<\/span> you<\/span> can<\/span> engage<\/span> with<\/span> being<\/span>\u00a0aware<\/span> and<\/span> connected<\/span> to<\/span> your<\/span> gratitude<\/span>.<\/span> One powerful method is through writing. When writing on your gratitude, do your best not to be too cognitive about it. Try not to censor yourself. Just let yourself feel what you're grateful for. Think of the big things and the small things. Add in your relationships. Maybe material goods, personal talents, people, opportunities, or anything that you feel deeply grateful for.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you've finished, take a moment to pause and notice how you feel when you immerse yourself into what you're grateful for.<\/p>\n

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