I come across a lot of people who do not exhibit a “grateful heart”. They gripe or complain about almost everything.
- “Bakit hamburger lang at softdrink ang pa-merienda nila?”
- “Ang liit naman ng ‘salary increase’ ko… sa taas ng mga bilihin ngayon, ‘di pa rin magkasya sa amin ‘to!”
- “Free seminar nanaman… dapat pahinga ko na lang ito, pinagkakait pa sa akin ng kumpanya!”
I would like to share with you an article taken from the Philippine STAR (October 18, 2007, p D-3) entitled “Gratitude Is The Best Medicine”. You may not know it but you are doing yourself a big disservice by adopting such an attitude.
“Did you know that a dose of gratitude is one good antibiotic? The mere act of saying thank you or simply letting someone know they are appreciated can do more for your immune system than you think.
That’s right! Gratitude can be beneficial to your health. According to published research findings by Dr. Robert Emmons (University of California in Davis) and Dr. Michael McCullough (University of Miami), gratitude is a virtue conducive to good health, well-being, happiness, and psychological stability.
The research revealed that practicing gratitude, whether verbally or through action, resulted in heightened liveliness, optimism, and enthusiasm. Furthermore, the research subjects were far less prone to depression and tension.
The positive effects of being grateful are endless. An immune system supported by a sunny disposition is one more positive effect – one becomes resistant to diseases and disorders that plague the body and the spirit. Psychological well-being is maintained, your social life is active, people’s perception of you improves, and your outlook in life is more optimistic and positive.
That is primarily why people who are more polite and courteous will likely end up being more socially accepted, and therefore, be more persuasive and trustworthy of other people. These revelations are not only based on decades of scientific research but on years of common social sense as well.”
