It is Festival time here in Murphysboro and after a year with out the rides, the food and the fun, it seems like it has been a long time coming! I never thought I would feel so grateful to able to ride a Farris wheel. Although it’s nice to count your blessings on Thanksgiving or after the throws of a pandemic, being thankful throughout the year could have tremendous benefits on your quality of life.
In fact, gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools that we all have access to every day. Cultivating gratitude doesn’t cost any money and it certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous. Research reveals gratitude can have these seven benefits:
1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Not only does saying “thank you” constitute good manners, but showing appreciation can help you win new friends. A study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. So whether you thank a stranger for holding the door or you send a quick thank-you note to that co-worker who helped you with a project, acknowledging other people’s contributions can lead to new opportunities.
2. Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and they report feeling healthier than other people. Not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. They exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups with their doctors, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.
3. Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kind. A study at University of Kentucky found participants who ranked higher on gratitude scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even when given negative feedback. They experienced more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and a decreased desire to seek revenge.
5. Grateful people sleep better. A 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being found that writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
6. Gratitude improves self-esteem. According to a 2014 study from the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that gratitude increased athlete’s self-esteem, which is an essential component to optimal performance.
7. Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma. A 2006 study for the Behavior Research and Therapy found that Vietnam War Veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Recognizing all you have to be thankful for – even during the worst times of your life – fosters resilience.
We all have the ability and opportunity to cultivate gratitude. At Oasis it is apart of our daily work life through our Thank You Cards.
Simply take a few moments to focus on all that you have – rather than complain about all the things you think you deserve. Developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life.
We are grateful for you and your support of our little skin spa.
Digestive System Communication
Your digestive system includes everything from your salivary glands in your mouth all the way to the large intestine. In between, there are things like a liver, spleen, stomach, and gall bladder. If there is a slow down in the assembly line process that takes food in, extracts nutrients, and expels waste products, it is very likely to appear as skin condition. Constipated digestive systems often wreak havoc on the body, robbing it of energy and health. Internally we might feel pain or bloating in the stomach region. But externally this may show up as eczema near the top of your forehead. If the problem is a long-term chronic issue, then you might find lines or wrinkles in the same area. If your liver has been under duress, you may find blackheads or puffiness in the area between your eyebrows.
Reproductive System Communication
Our reproductive system is also a regulator of hormones that can alter our moods for better or worse. Adrenal glands along with pituitary and hypothalamus glands are included in this network of chemical producing powerhouses. Hormones are potent chemical compounds that are designed to have a strong effect on the body and produce some kind of necessary action from the body whether that is procreation or successfully outrunning a bear. If your body is dealing with excessive estrogen you may find hyperpigmentation in the cheeks and lower forehead. If you have too much testosterone, you’ll probably see exacerbated lesions from acne along and around the jaw line. However, declining estrogen is linked to having underactive sebaceous glands which leads to skin drying and excessive wrinkling.
Immune System Communication
Your immune system is designed to help your body fend off all entities you cannot see that seek to suck up your life force for their own gain without giving back. This system includes your tonsils, lymph nodes, and your spleen. If your body is under active defense from an attack, one or more of these parts of the system may become inflamed due to the battle. You may also experience itching, burning, or rash along with watery eyes and a running nose. There may also be coughing or sneezing due to inflammation in your sinus passages. On the skin surface you might see tenderness or a feeling of swelling or pressure along the cheeks and in the area of the eyes. Your skin may be particularly sensitive to touch during one of these episodes as well.
