Cultivating the Virtue of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches, I can’t help thinking about the importance of gratitude in our everyday lives. New research is even showing how the practice of gratitude changes the brain, improves sleep, and relieves depression & anxiety. So, we now have scientific evidence to back up traditional wisdom. Check out this article about the research on gratitude: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201211/the-grateful-brain.

In order to cultivate this virtue in your life, I suggest beginning a daily habit of giving thanks. You can do this by taking a few minutes each day to pray or meditate on the positive moments from your day. Sometimes you can even find things to be thankful for in your daily challenges. Make a goal of finding at least three things you are grateful for daily. Then, share your gratitude with others.

What better time than Thanksgiving to start this new habit.

Happy Thanksgiving!