Being Grateful Is Good For You!
Exercise Essential
Gratitude and health Feeling thankful can improve your health in both direct and indirect ways. Some research shows that the experience of gratitude can induce a sense of relaxation, improve the immune system, and decrease blood pressure. But grateful people also tend to cultivate better healthhabits, like eatingmore nutritious food, exercising, and avoiding risky behaviors. In addition, the optimism that stems from gratitude can create a healing attitude: research shows that people with optimistic attitudes have better outcomes Robert Emmons, an internationally renowned scientific expert on gratitude, has found that acknowledging thegood in lifehas a tendency to amplify positive emotions, such as joy and contentment because it helps us slow down. “I think gratitude allows us to participate more in life,” he says. “We notice the positives more, and that magnifies the pleasures you get from life.” Consider the last time you had a good cup of coffee—did you pay attention to the warmth of the cup on your hands or the feeling of pleasure as you took the first sip? It’s easy to ignore these small moments of positivity in our day as we rush from one activity to another, but stopping to appreciate after medical procedures. Gratitude and joy
Emmons, it’s an essential part of the process of healing from trauma. Even despair can be mitigated by the experience of appreciation for the good, however slight it might be. Many survivors of the Holocaust, when asked to tell their stories, remember most strongly the feelings of gratitude for food, shelter, or clothing that was offered to them. This sense of thankfulness for the small blessings helped themmaintain their humanity despite experiencing a horrific tragedy. Many people with life-threatening illnesses also report decreased distress and increased positive emotions when they practice gratitude. Recent MRI studies have mapped the gratitude circuitry in thebrain, whichactivates a sense of reward, fairness, and decision- making—all aspects that help facilitate survival and post-traumatic growth. Emmons, R. (2010 November 16). Why gratitude is good. Greater Good. Retrieved from http://greatergood.berkeley. edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good . Emmons, R.A., Stern, R. (2013). Gratitude as a psychotherapeutic intervention. Journal of Clinical Psychology; 69(8), 846-855. Excerpts taken from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/10-ways-be- more-thankful-person
SCALENE STRETCH
Did You Know? We Can Also Treat: • Back Pain • Mobility Issues • Neck Pain Place your hands overlapping on your breast bone. Next, tilt your head upwards and away from the affected side until a gentle stretch is felt along the front and side of your neck
themmakes themmore powerful. Gratitude and resilience
Practicing gratitude can also make you better equipped to handle the difficulties of life that inevitably arise. In fact, according to
• Contusions • Headaches • Hip Pain • Joint Pain • Knee Pain
• Pelvic Injuries • Shoulder Pain • Sports Injuries • Sprains
Healthy Recipe Pumpkin Soup
INGREDIENTS
• ½ tsp chopped fresh thyme • 1 clove garlic, minced • ½ c heavy whipping cream • 2 tsp black pepper
• 6 c vegetable stock • 1 ½ tsp salt • 4 c pumpkin puree • 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley • 1 cup chopped onion
DIRECTIONS
Heat stock, salt, pumpkin, onion, thyme, garlic, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered. Puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender. Return to pan, and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9191/pumpkin-soup/
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