A thankful heart, a healthy body
Are you a victim of unanswered emails? Tired of being ignored? Then you better end your letter with words of gratitude.
Boomerang, a plug-in for scheduling emails, did a study to check if closing words people use in their emails affect response. “Emails that closed with a variation of thank you got significantly more responses than emails ending with other popular closings,” their data scientist Brendan Greenley writes. Those that ended in “Thanks in advance” had a 65.7-percent response rate. Emails that ended in “Thanks” got 63 percent. “Thank you” got a 57.9-percent response.
Just off a Lenten break where reflection on the Passion of Christ filled our hearts with gratitude and love, I revisited studies that should convince us to be thankful at all times.
Dr. Cynthia Thaik, a Harvard-trained cardiologist and author of Your Vibrant Heart: Restoring Health, Strength & Spirit from the Body’s Core, teaches that people have the amazing potential to heal ailments through mindfulness. Dr. Thaik has helped thousands of patients transform their health through the way they think, feel, and act.
An attitude of gratitude leads to happiness and well-being. “Being thankful for the things you have and appreciating both the good and the bad in your life has the power to transform the way you actually live your life. When you are constantly reminding yourself of what you have to be happy for, you will be happy,” she writes in her blog.
Dr. Thaik reminds us why gratitude is so important. First, it reminds us of what truly matters in life. If you remind yourself daily of the things you are thankful for, then you will focus more on what is important and less on what is fleeting and superficial. Second, if you are thankful even for issues and challenges in your life, you will be amazed at how they shrink in magnitude compared to when you view them full of fear and anxiety. Third, gratitude goes back to you. It cultivates positive feelings and better relationships. You will attract the best of life when you have a thankful disposition.
Gratitude is like a muscle. You can train it and strengthen it by practicing it every day. Dr. Thaik suggests focusing on five things you are truly thankful for every day. Be still, with eyes closed and be grateful in silence. When you do this daily, you will begin to feel happier, lighter, and more energized. She cautions though to stay away from those that can hurt you below:
“Self-doubt. It destroys hope, imagination, and dreams. Feelings of inadequacy have often been instilled into the very fabric of our being long before we began to develop strong, cohesive thoughts of our own. Trust in the absence of evidence and stay present without allowing the past to taint or infect the moment. Talk back to the negative inner voice and counter it with proof — you are good enough!
“Judgement: Carl Jung said, “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” We may judge others, but we often turn a more harsh judgement on ourselves. Constant judgement and criticism will wear your soul down. Accept that you are human. We all make mistakes. Be compassionate and forgiving toward yourself and learn to move on. You cannot change the past.
“Stress. You may not always be able to control stress itself, but you can choose how you deal with it. Stress tears away bits of your soul. It causes the release of cortisol, which provides short-term, immediate energy to cope with the situation, but compromises your immune system in the long term. Try to look beyond the situation. You may be beaten down, but you are never defeated unless you give up. Do not feed stress. Take a deep breath. Feed a calm spirit of acceptance.
“Fear and insecurity. We live in a fearful world. People feel the need to protect themselves and often let fear eclipse common sense. Focus on things that build confidence and security, rather than those that make you fearful. Fill your life and mind with hopeful thoughts. Challenge your fears and insecurities. Find something that makes you feel strong and make it your touchstone.
“Anger and hatred. The Buddha said, “Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else — you are the one who gets burned.” When angry and hateful feelings start to fill you up, breathe slowly and focus. Access your quiet, peaceful inner soul and push the anger back. Ask yourself why you are feeling anger. Will this still matter tomorrow, next week, next year? Practice compassion and forgiveness.”
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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com
