Coach Meg
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In our coaching session, Rich wanted to focus on the riches of his life. Especially related to his relationship with his spouse, Rich was looking for ways being, and expressing, more gratitude.
You may be wondering why gratitude is so appealing. As part of the science of Happiness movement, gratitude has gotten a lot of attention lately? and deservedly so.
Psychological Research Tells Us
Experiencing positive emotions has many benefits, including greater happiness, vitality, optimism and hope. More specifically, the intentional practice of gratitude has been shown to reduce the feelings of envy and greed that our materialistic society has fallen victim to. And, when we are grateful for all of our circumstances, we are less likely to experience the energy-draining feelings of resentment and regret. Instead, we savor every moment - even the tough ones.
Physical health
Gratitude also has a positive impact on our physical well-being. The HeartMath Institute found that living appreciatively increases the body's parasympathetic activity, the part of our system that controls stress and hypertension. Happiness (of which gratitude is a part) and longevity are also positively linked. In a famous study of nearly 200 nuns, those who consistently expressed appreciation for life lived nearly seven years longer than others.
Gratitude and Grace
"Blessings connect us to the wellspring of our very being," says Williams John Fitzgerald, author of 100 Cranes. When we don't take the time to be grateful, we miss an opportunity to nurture our well-being.
Next week we'll explore ways to invite gratitude into our own lives...
Margaret Moore, also known as “Coach Meg,” is CEO and founder of Wellcoaches Corp. in Wellesley, MA