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Thriving People, Thriving Workplaces December 2008: With Thanks |
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It’s inspiring to hear people acknowledge
the good things in their lives, particularly if they have experienced
troubles and difficulties. As we come to the end of
another year, it’s timely to reflect on those things for which we are
grateful. The theme of my regular emails
is to bring information which helps you to thrive in your lives and your
work. What follows is some great evidence about why gratitude is a good thing
for us all. One of the recognised authorities
in the field of research on gratitude is Robert Emmons Ph.D., Professor of
Psychology at UC Davis and Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Positive
Psychology. He recently published his book on the psychology of gratitude: “Thanks:
How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier” About gratitude -
is outward-directed and other-directed -
helps with humility: we would not be where we are
without the contribution of other people or the things which create the
goodness in our lives); involves showing respect for others by recognising
their good intentions in helping us -
is an acknowledgement that there are good things even we
are feeling unhappy or if times are bad -
is a virtue as well as an emotion -
is morally and intellectually demanding (not fluffy,
warm and fuzzy) -
is a choice, and is not always easy Why does gratitude matter? -
contributes positively to friendships and civility -
results in increased connectedness, improved
relationships and altruism -
those with high gratitude have better relationships, and
are more likely to protect and preserve those relationships -
when people report feeling grateful, thankful and
appreciative, they also feel more loving, forgiving, joyful and enthusiastic,
have higher levels of positive emotions, are more resilient and can cope more
effectively with stress. They may recover more quickly from illness, and
benefit from greater physical health and fewer health complaints -
protects us from the destructive impulses of envy,
resentment, greed and bitterness -
to improve sleep, count blessings, not sheep. Counting
blessings may counteract the effects of hedonic adaptation: if we consciously
remind ourselves of our blessings, it should become harder to take what we
have for granted -
when we notice what we are grateful for, we are not
noticing what we lack The effect on our bodies -
drives out the toxic emotions of resentment, anger and
envy -
gratitude and appreciation can restore the natural
rhythms of the heart -
23% average reduction in the stress hormone cortisol
and 100% increase in the hormone DHEA, which reflects a state of physical
relaxation. Increases in DHEA are correlated with increases in warm-heartedness
(kindness, tolerance, appreciation, compassion) Gratitude at Work Aside from the scientific research, what do my clients
say? Here are some comments from workshop participants on the subject of gratitude
at work: -
helps me to see the good things -
keeps me honest -
reminds me why I am here -
helps me to manage change -
maintains perspective -
helps when I don’t have control over things -
it
gets us working at the heart level, and gets us out of our heads “There is as much greatness of
mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it.” (Seneca) “Gratitude is the memory of the
heart.” (Jean Baptiste Massieu) Many thanks to each and every one of
you, my readers, friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Wishing you all
the very best for the holiday season and the New Year. Amanda This article… …aims to provide you and your teams with information for your professional and personal development. Topics are based on areas of interest raised by clients and colleagues, with material drawn from journals, books, articles and shared experiences. Add / Remove: Please send an email to: info@amandahorne.com.au For previous articles: www.amandahorne.com.au/html/resources.html © Amanda Horne Pty Ltd, 2008 |
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Here are some points from his research. 