Sunday, Nov. 28,2007

Opening

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues,
but the parent of all the others."
--Cicero

Gratitude Theory, The Osgood File
In recent years, many scientists have begun examining the links between religion and good health, both physical and mental. Now two psychologists are working to unlock the puzzle of how faith might promote happiness. Dr. Michael McCollough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, say their initial scientific study indicates that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being.

McCollough and Emmons were curious about why people involved in their faith seem to have more happiness and a greater sense of well-being than those who aren't and decided to study the connections. After making initial observations and compiling all the previous research on gratitude, they conducted the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving. The study required several hundred people in three different groups to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day, while the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCollough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.

McCullough says these results also seem to show that gratitude works independently of faith. Though gratitude is a substantial part of most religions, he says the benefits extend to the general population, regardless of faith or lack thereof. In light of his research, McCullough suggests that anyone can increase their sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting their blessings.

Rumi
The night's departed; yet, my friend,Our story's not yet at an end.

The Hidden Messages in Water, Masaru Emoto
Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto is known for his fascinating pictures of water crystals before and after being exposed to certain words.What he found was water that was labeled with harsh and negative words resulted in deformed crystals (if they could form at all). The most perfect crystals developed when the words "love and gratitude" were pasted onto the bottle. After seeing water react to different environmental conditions, pollution and music, Mr. Emoto and colleagues decided to see how thoughts and words affected the formation of untreated, distilled, water crystals, using words typed onto paper by a word processor and taped on glass bottles overnight..

The Astonishing Power of Emotions, Ester and Jerry Hicks
Excerpt
… And as you come to understand this powerful Stream of Life that we are explaining, and as you get a glimpse of the larger picture of who-you-really-are, and, most important, as you become convinced that your true work is to simply realign with who-you really-are, the Art of Allowing will become second nature to you. The most common misunderstanding that prevents people from getting control of a situation and gaining their personal balance is the belief that I need to get to where I want to be right now or as quickly as possible. We certainly understand your desire to find the answers to your questions quickly or to solve your problems as fast as you can, but still, that urge works against you. When you feel an urgency to be somewhere else, you are pushing hard against where you are. That is upstream. But an even more important flaw in the premise you are beginning from is this: In your belief that you must hurry to an improved place, you are discounting the power of the Stream, its speed, its direction, and its promise. And in the forgetting of those things, you are definitely pointed in the opposite direction of who you-truly-are and all that you have become.

So now, turn your attention once again to the upstream/downstream analogy, and feel for a moment the sensation of relief that you would experience if you had been paddling against the Current in an upstream direction and then suddenly just stopped paddling, in an attitude of giving in to the Stream and letting it just turn you and take you downstream. Let this picture soothe you even further as you try now to remember that this Stream is benevolent and wise, and it is actually taking you toward the things that you want. In your mind’s eye, lie back in your boat, feel it turn naturally downstream, and relax into the idea that this Stream will carry you to your inevitable Well-Being and to a fulfillment of your desires. You Are Adding Power to the Stream.

Dialogue
Closing

On gratitude and aging
Rumi

Why does a date-palm lose its leaves in autumn?
Why does every beautiful face grow in old age
Wrinkled like the back of a Libyan lizard?
Why does a full head of hair get bald?
Why is it that the Lion's strength weakens to nothing?The wrestler who could hold anyone down Is led out with two people supporting him,Their shoulders under his arms?
God answers,“They put on borrowed robes And pretended they were theirs.I take the beautiful clothes back,So that you will learn the robe Of appearance is only a loan.”Your lamp was lit from another lamp.All God wants is your gratitude for that

The Gospel According to Mary
And desire said, I did not see you descending, but now I see you ascending. Why do you lie since you belong to me?
The soul answered and said, I saw you. You did not see me nor recognize me. I served you as a garment and you did not know me.
When it said this, it (the soul) went away rejoicing greatly.



We ask for your comments/thoughts to continue our Sunday conversation. Thank you.