Something Simple We Can Do To Be Happier - Be Grateful

[Guest guest]

Something Simple We Can Do To Be Happier - Be Grateful

http://medicalnewscenter.com/out/out.cgi?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081125141610.htm

Want to quickly improve your happiness and satisfaction with life?

Then the pen may be a mighty weapon, according to research done by

Kent State University's Dr. Toepfer.

Toepfer, an assistant professor of family and consumer studies at

university's Salem Campus, says that expressive writing is something

that has been available to mankind since ink first appeared in Egypt

more than 4,000 years ago.

" Everyone is pursuing the American dream. We are wealthier than

previous generations, consuming more and experiencing more, but yet

so many of us are so unhappy, " Toepfer says. " The question of 'is

there something simple we can do to be happier?' is one that I have

been thinking about for many years and one that has interested people

for much longer. "

With that question in mind, Toepfer enlisted students from six

courses to explore the effects of writing letters of gratitude to

people who had positively impacted the students' lives. Over the

course of a six-week period, students wrote one letter every two

weeks with the simple ground rules that it had to be positively

expressive, required some insight and reflection, were nontrivial and

contained a high level of appreciation or gratitude.

After each letter, students completed a survey to gauge their moods,

satisfaction with life and feelings of gratitude and happiness.

" I saw their happiness increase after each letter, meaning the more

they wrote, the better they felt, " says Toepfer, who also witnessed

improvement in participants' life satisfaction and gratitude

throughout the study. " The most powerful thing in our lives is our

social network. It doesn't have to be large, and you don't always

need to be the life of the party, but just having one or two

significant connections in your life has shown to have terrific

psychological and physical benefits. "

In all, 75 percent of the students said they planned to continue to

write letters of gratitude even when the course was over.

Studies demonstrate, according to Toepfer, that practicing expressive

writing is often associated with fewer health problems, decreased

depression, an improved immune system and improved grades.

" We are all walking around with an amazing resource: gratitude, " says

Toepfer. " It helps us express and enjoy, appreciate, be thankful and

satisfied with a little effort. We all have it, and we need to use it

to improve our quality of life. "