I received a summary prepared by Suki Reed, president of Orange County Hiking Club Meetup, of a research project from UC Davis and University of Miami, theorizing that gratitude is the “forgotten factor” in happiness research for health and longevity. Suki’s main points from the study:
60 second gratitude inventory – life basics
• Can I feel my breath?
• Can I feel my heart beating?
• Can I feel my fingers (or any part of my body) moving?
• Can I feel immediate surroundings; chair, ground, tree, etc…?
60 seconds to broaden the gratitude field – M.E.O.W.
• Feel gratitude for Me (aka yourself)
• Feel gratitude for the Earth on which you stand
• Feel gratitude for Others who are making a contribution to your life; people, pets, etc…
• Feel gratitude for the World around you
Read Suki’s complete summary of the study. Also check out the study’s site here.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and don’t forget to take gratitude breaks all year long!
