This week in Edutopia, Owen Griffith explains how writing about gratitude can produce a host of different positive outcomes. Griffith recommends the regular practice of listing what we’re thankful for. He says, “Gratitude seems to work like a muscle, and the physical action of writing a gratitude list helps develop ‘gratitude muscles.'”
The benefits from this kind of writing are impressive. Griffith suggests that they include:
Keeping a gratitude journal on a daily basis helps students achieve the following:
- Higher grades
- Higher goals
- More satisfaction with relationships, life, and school
- Less materialism
- More willingness to give back.
For adults, keeping a gratitude journal enables people to:
- Be more optimistic
- Experience more social satisfaction
- Exercise more often
- Have less envy and depression
- Have fewer physical complaints
- Sleep better.
Perhaps this could become a Thanksgiving family activity? If you give it a try, let us know how it goes.
