Thought For The Week: 

Why Practicing Gratitude is Good For Your Health

Researchers in one simple study randomly assigned people to one of three groups:

People in one group were told to write down five things they were grateful for in their lives over the last week (their lists included such things as family, kindness from friends, and the Rolling Stones).

People in another group were told to write down five daily hassles from the last week (their lists included such things as too many bills to pay, trouble finding a park, and a messy kitchen).

People in a third group simply listed five events that had occurred in the last week (their lists included attending a music festival, learning CPR, and cleaning out a closet).

Before the study started, all participants had kept daily journals recording their moods, physical health, and general attitudes. The researchers could then compare how people in these different groups changed over time.

The Findings:

 People who focused on what they were grateful for felt 25 per cent happier - they were more optimistic about the future and they felt better about their lives. People in this group also reported exercising more and had fewer symptoms of illness.

Although this study was conducted with relatively young, healthy people, other research reveals very similar benefits for people struggling with serious challenges. People with neuromuscular disorders, which cause joint and muscle pain as well as muscle atrophy, who write about things they are grateful for in their daily lives show greater satisfaction and more optimism. 

Women with breast cancer who spend ten minutes a day writing about their gratitude toward someone in their life show better psychological well-being as well as better adaptation to cancer. 

These findings all tell us that focusing on what you are grateful for has real and substantial benefits, even among people struggling with serious, even life-threatening health conditions.