Gratitude May Be Great Medicine

HealthInsuranceSort.com is hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving season and is here to point out the importance of gratitude on our health.  John Tierney writes about this in his article on NYTimes.com “A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day”.  According to the article, an attitude of gratitude has been linked to better overall health, better sleep, higher satisfaction with life and kinder interactions with others.  A recent study reports that feeling appreciative even makes people less likely to turn aggressive when provoked.

If your interested in better health and possibly lower health insurance quotes, listen to the advice of Robert A. Emmons of the University of California who offers techniques for cultivating gratitude.  First, don’t confuse gratitude with indebtedness.  Indebtedness can be a negative emotion bringing about negative responses.  Another tip is to pay it forward.  When someone brings an act of kindness upon you, pass it on to someone else.  Kindness is contagious and breeds gratitude.

When you are faced with negative interactions from friends and family, don’t counterattack.  Practice empathy and focus on what you are thankful for.  Studies show you will be less bothered by negative interactions if you are practicing gratitude.  You can practice gratitude by making a list of everything you are thankful for or writing a letter to someone you are very thankful for and someone who had a strong positive influence on your life.  Taking the time to really focus on what we are thankful for this holiday season may be just what we need to keep our health in check as we enjoy food, drink and good company.