Sober Synthesis

Offers a way of embracing all that makes our lives what they are.
Willingness to widen our lens, and expand our attention
Depends on ability to pay attention.

Mindfulness:
Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment.

Research in social science: gratitude appears to contribute substantially to individual well-being and physical health.

Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley: describes gratitude as the “social glue”;key to building and nurturing strong relationships.

Dr. Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at the UCLA Davis
Defines gratitude as having two parts:

1. An affirmation of goodness: people can learn to wake up to the good around them
   and notice the gifts they have received.
2. Recognizing that the source of this goodness rests outside of oneself
   —that we receive these gifts from something outside of ourselves.

Gratitude increases Resilience:
Practicing gratitude magnifies positive feelings more than it reduces negative feelings.
Gratitude helps one see the bigger picture and become more resilient in the face of adversity.

Trait gratitude – people who have a naturally grateful personality.
Gratitude as mood – daily fluctuations in gratitude.
Gratitude as emotion – a passing feeling of gratitude
“Practice” of gratitude is designed to boost gratitude as a mood or emotion.

Research:
Grateful (trait) people have fewer common health complaints
Practicing gratitude could also help bring about such health benefits.

Gratitude and Physiology
Engages the parasympathetic nervous system, “rest and digest”.

Stronger Connections
Gratitude motivates individuals to give back, or pay back the kindness they may have received, and can also motivate a person to make decisions that will strengthen their relationships.
Gratitude may increase a person’s desire to spend more time with someone, and it encourages prosocial behaviors.

Better Communication
Gratitude may also open the door to healthier communication styles within a relationship.

Takeaway: Cultivating gratitude can open the door to a different perspective-one that values the goodness in our lives. With practice, we can learn to see the bigger picture and navigate adversity with greater resilience.

References:

https://www.mindful.org/the-science-of-gratitude/

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/

The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time by says Nancy Davis Kho.

The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a life of happiness and wellbeing by giving thanks by Dr. Robert Emmons, 2016.