NOW this… by Kim
NOW this… by Kim
Gratitude … it’s contagious
There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel inundated by some form of negativity. If you/your loved ones came through the pandemic without getting sick or losing someone to Covid-19 you were truly fortunate.
Now, instead of feeling relief we feel exhausted. Between the new “new-normal” that comes with inflation and higher prices everywhere to long-haulers and lack of people willing to get back to work, you have to wonder if we as a country can keep up.
Then there is the unrelenting war in Ukraine that keeps us on the edge of our seats and wondering if World War III is creeping closer and closer to an unimaginable reality. And let’s not even get started with what’s going on politically.
All of these issues saturate our social media, news outlets and daily conversations. All this negativity can literally zap your energy, transform your mood and affect your overall health.
While doing my research for this article, I came across a piece on ‘gratitude’.
Remember these sayings:
1. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
2. Good manners don’t cost anything.
3. Actions speak louder than words.
4. Please … Thank you.
These were all directives our parents/grandparents gave us so that we would grow into decent people with decent manners. It turns out that the same advice also helps make our brains and body healthier. “There is a magnetic appeal to gratitude,” says Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California, and a pioneer of gratitude research. “It speaks to a need that’s deeply entrenched.” Meaning, we need to give thanks and to be thanked, just as it’s important to feel respected and connected socially.
According to Louisa Kamps, author of What Gratitude Can Do For You: “From an evolutionary perspective, the feeling of gratitude is what helps to bind communities together. When people appreciate the goodness they’ve received, they feel a need to give back. This interdependence allows not only an individual but also society as a whole to prosper and to survive.”
As we have seen all too clearly, it is easy in these modern times to forget to be thankful or even gracious. We’re too distracted, too self-entitled and often too disconnected to others around us. Louisa Kamps adds, “By disconnecting from others, we often suffer from consequences such as loneliness, anger or even a less robust immune system.”
So what can be done? Let’s try making a concerted and consistent effort to notice and appreciate the good things flowing to us - from the signs that spring’s blessings are happening to small gestures of appreciation toward co-workers, family and friends. Also, instead of being on the defensive with others who share differing opinions on things, be a good listener and try and find common ground.
Focus on being a nicer person. “People can’t help but pay it forward. When appreciation is expressed, it triggers a biological response in the recipient’s brain, including a surge of the feel-good chemical dopamine,” says Emmons. So when you express gratitude toward a loved one, a college or a friend, he or she is grateful in return, and the back-and-forth continues.
So in a time so marred by negativity, look to the things that are close by and tangible. Be thankful for your blessings and say a sincere “thank you” to the next person you see. You may be surprised at how contagious being gratuitous can be.
Kim Duke is a certified personal trainer and owner of Core Performance Fitness and Training, located at 55 Bristol Lane, Ellicottville, NY. Kim resides in Ellicottville where she raised her two sons, Zach and Nik. For more information about her studio visit her Facebook page or www.coreperformancefitness.com. Kim can be reached directly at 716-698-1198.
