Some Science of Gratitude

I enjoy finding science-based information that confirms things I already subscribe to because of my religious beliefs. The intersections and commonality are fascinating and they help me understand a concept better and reinforce its importance to me. Today I was trying to learn more about gratitude when I stumbled upon this article.

Gratitude doesn’t make problems and threats disappear. We can lose jobs, we can be attacked on the street, we can get sick. I’ve experienced all of those things. I remember those harrowing times at unexpected moments: My heart beats faster, my throat constricts. My body wants to hit something or run away, one or the other. But there’s nothing to hit, nowhere to run. The threats are indeed real, but at that moment, they exist only in memory or imagination. I am the threat; it is me who is wearing myself out with worry.
That’s when I need to turn on the gratitude. If I do that enough, suggests the psychological research, gratitude might just become a habit. What will that mean for me? It means, says the research, that I increase my chances of psychologically surviving hard times, that I stand a chance to be happier in the good times. I’m not ignoring the threats; I’m appreciating the resources and people that might help me face those threats.

Read the rest here... The Six Habits of Highly Grateful People by Jeremy Adam Smith 

I enjoyed this one too: Gratitude Practice Explained, from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Paradoxical, but so true! Source

Rejoice in the Good!

The Holy Father said this today:

The Pontiff noted how "we are always attentive to problems and to difficulties," but there is almost an unwillingness "to perceive that there are beautiful things that come from the Lord."

Attention to the good, "which becomes gratitude," he said, "is very important for us; it creates in us a memory for the good and it helps us also in times of darkness."

"God accomplishes great things, and whoever experiences this -- attentive to the Lord's goodness with an attentiveness of heart -- is filled with joy," the Pontiff affirmed.

This is something I often bring up in my talks on culture - to rejoice in the good. I bring this up not because I'm good at it, but because I know it's important, yet often struggle with it myself.

You can read the rest of his talk here: Don't Get Lost in Problems, says Pope.

And speaking of being grateful for the good, 35 men from the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican were ordained deacons last week. You can see a photo here: (the settings won't let me share it). The deacon on the far left was stationed at our parish for the last three summers. We are so happy for him!

I have yet to type up my notes from my conference talk in Napa last summer. Maybe this will remind me to get to it soon. Have a beautiful day!

Another Quote on Gratitude...

I can't believe I forgot this Chesterton one in my earlier post - it's exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about in how gratitude can help us keep things balanced. Fortunately, I've been catching up on some of Dr. Thursday's posts while we're getting through the flu here and he mentioned the quote in a recent post...

...we should thank God for beer and Burgundy by not drinking too much of them.
[GKC, Orthodoxy CW1:268]

Also, while I'm at it, Willa left the following Chesterton quote in the comments box of the previous post on Gratitude:

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

Thinking about Gratitude

I decided a few days ago that the virtue I personally should work on during the season of Advent is gratitude. True, deep gratitude. The kind that inspires good stewardship and balance and charity. Here are a few tidbits I've been thinking about in this regard...

The first was the Gospel from a few Sundays ago (from Matthew 25):

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.

For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'

The second is from a book I picked up for myself for Christmas, but just haven't been able to keep my nose out of. It's called Book of All Saints by Adrienne Von Speyr (Ignatius Press, 2008) and it's astounding. Adrienne was a mystic who received glimpses of the prayer and spiritual lives of saints and others (including some writers and composers). The work is incredibly powerful. For me it makes a double impression at the same time - the closeness of God's involvement in human affairs and the realness of the saints. Anyway, the passage I had in mind was from her writing on St. Francis of Assisi:

...his first reaction was always gratitude. He accustomed himself, in everything that happened in his life, always first and foremost to praise and to give thanks, even before he knows what it is, in fact, that he has received, even before he accepts what he receives, looks at it, and gives it shape.

I think I had more quotes in mind too, but I'm really out of time.