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Boost Your Health with an Attitude of Gratitude

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Want to enjoy better health, greater happiness and inner peace? It’s as simple as counting your blessings. An attitude of gratitude can go a long way toward vibrant health. From Cicero to Buddha, philosophers and spiritual leaders around the world have lauded the merits of gratitude as a major factor in health and happiness. The world’s major religions, including Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have prized gratitude as a spiritually beneficial emotional state. In recent years, doctors and psychologists have jumped on the bandwagon. Researchers in the emerging field of positive psychology say that studies in the “science of gratitude” indicate that thankful people are happier and healthier, have less stress and enjoy better relationships.

At Thanksgiving it is traditional to sit around the table with your family to discuss the blessings that you have received. For many people that is the ONLY time of the year when blessings are counted and gratitude is expressed. But what about the other 364 days of the year? Researchers have found that every day is Thanksgiving for the happiest and healthiest people who walk among us. Gratitude, expressed daily, will strengthen your immune system and help you approach life with greater optimism. Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet and regular physical examinations.

Research suggests that the average urban dweller is bombarded by more than 1,500 advertisements each day, most of which make us feel dissatisfied with what we have. The messages suggest that we cannot possibly be happy unless we purchase the latest and greatest goods and services. Unfortunately, millions of us have fallen victim to this consumer mentality and become miserable when we can’t have everything we see. The misguided focus on materialism is taking a toll on our nation’s physical and mental health.

The word “gratitude” comes from the Latin word gracias, which means grace. Gratitude is rooted in the truth that all of life is a gift to be received and enjoyed. Much has been written in recent years about the “law of attraction”. When you approach life with a spirit of optimism, good things are more likely to come your way. Every day for the next month, focus on having an attitude of gratitude. Train your mind to focus on your blessings, not your disappointments. If you having trouble staying focused, consider keeping a “gratitude journal” to chronicle your blessings. Make gratitude a habit and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You will find that when you give thanks your blessings will grow and multiply.