“Taking the time to focus on what you are thankful for, letting that sense of gratitude wash over you—this helps us manage and cope.”
– Paul Mills, professor of family medicine and public health at the UCSD School of Medicine
In a study conducted at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Professor Paul Mills tested 40 patients and noted biological indications of heart disease such as inflammation and heart rhythm. After that, half of the patients kept a journal most days of the week, writing about two or three things they were grateful for. “People wrote about everything, from appreciating children to being grateful for spouses, friends, pets, travel, jobs and even good food,” reports Patti Neighmond in an NPR article on the study.
Two months later, the journal-keeping patients had lower inflammation levels and improved heart rhythms, resulting in reduced risk for heart disease. Mills believes that journaling about what we’re grateful for reduces stress, which is a huge risk factor in heart disease.
What are you grateful for?
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