{"id":38945,"date":"2017-11-21T04:45:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T10:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=38945"},"modified":"2017-11-21T04:45:14","modified_gmt":"2017-11-21T10:45:14","slug":"the-science-of-thankfulness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/the-science-of-thankfulness\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Surprising New Science of Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is easier to be thankful during Thanksgiving. The name alone inspires a sense of appreciation. Mix that general feeling with turkey, good wine, family, and friends and even the busiest, overworked American can find a reason to stop and be thankful. The challenge is maintaining a thankfulness habit throughout the year.<\/p>\n

All too often, life gets in the way. Assignments need to be completed, employees need to be managed, and flights need to be caught. Presentations need to be given, equipment needs to be maintained, and reports need to be filed. On top of your more-than-full-time job, daily tasks affiliated with raising children, maintaining relationships, and keeping yourself sane have to somehow fit into your schedule.<\/p>\n

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It is easy to become so preoccupied with meeting goals and succeeding in life, that we forget to enjoy and appreciate the ride. A thankfulness habit is a natural remedy. Like most habits, it takes time and effort to establish. Recognizing the many benefits of thankfulness is key to prioritizing its development.<\/p>\n

Thankfulness will not only make you happier, it will help you to achieve your very real goals. It will strengthen your relationships, help to maintain your health, and ultimately enable you to live a more productive life. You don\u2019t have to take my word for it; the science of thankfulness is well documented. Here are five proven benefits of thankfulness to get you motivated.<\/p>\n

1. Thankfulness combats stress<\/h3>\n

The many impacts of stress on our health are still being uncovered. We know it can be bad, but we're not always sure just how bad. With every study, the severity and extent of this relationship deepen. Stress impacts the gut,<\/a> decreases activity levels<\/a> and can lead to irritable bowel syndrome<\/a>. There is even evidence<\/a> chronic stress can quicken cancer progression.<\/p>\n

The good news is that thankfulness combats stress. According to Carolyn Youssef-Morgan, gratitude is the antidote<\/a> to work stress. Gratitude has been linked to well being by too many studies to list. Positive reframing is one reason for the connection. When people practice gratitude they are more likely to see the good in challenging situations. They face adversity head-on. They find the silver lining. Positive reframing, and the thankfulness that helps us to achieve it, are powerful tools against stress. When you combat stress, you also avoid accompanying the health consequences.<\/p>\n\t\t