1. Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
    Dismiss Notice

The benefits of gratitude

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by Forest, Nov 29, 2013.

  1. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    With gratitude having come up in a recent thread, and with people in the US celebrating the holiday of Thanksgiving, I thought it might be a good time to post something about the benefits of gratitude.

    In the most recent TMS Call-In Discussion Group, I frequently found myself referring to how recent research supported our intuitions. There has been a tremendous amount of great research coming out recently, and I've found it very beneficial to spend a little time learning about it. For example, Plum suggests a book called "Buddha's Brain." I have it and it looks terrific.

    Right now, I'd like to share a clip on gratitude. Like in the call in group, the bottom line is that recent research supports our intuitions. Gratitude makes us stronger, psychologically, socially and physically. The video is presented by a scientist who has done some groundbreaking work on the importance of gratitude at Berkeley, and he explains how this type of outcome research is done.

    It's a little dry at first, but I like to think that if we understand how studies are done, that helps us think critically about them. Plus, at only 10 minutes long, you get a quick introduction to a subject that has made up a significant portion of this particular scientist's professional life.
     
    575 likes this.
  2. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    PS: there has indeed been so much recent research on gratitude that a research institute at Berkeley has a whole section devoted to it:
    http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude

    For anyone who hasn't checked out the Greater Good center at Berkeley, I recommend it. I've personally liked their facebook page and enjoy learning a bit more every day.
     
  3. 575

    575 Peer Supporter

    Interesting video.
    I might start a gratitude journal myself and see how it feels.
     
  4. jazzhands

    jazzhands Peer Supporter

    I actually read Buddha's Brain long before I discovered TMS. It's a fascinating book. And I think it sort of primed me to accept the idea that pain can be caused directly by the brain, since I already knew that pain had a large psychological component.
     

Share This Page