Magazine Article Review: Gratitude = Good Health: Prevention Pulse

 Prevention Pulse, Take Out Your Pencil: Gratitude = Good Health, Prevention, November 2025, p 7.

A little article mentions something I shared before, an attitude of gratitude improves health.  "Feeling thankful is an effective way to improve mental well-being, sleep quality, and heart health, and it could even help you live longer."  The article says this is according to a long term study.  Then the article gives an assignment.  This is from Dr. Judy Ho Ph.D. 

Jot down kind thoughts about three people your life.  This will prompt feelings of appreciation.  This can be part of a gratitude ritual.

I found a website quoting Dr. Ho which gives some other ideas.  1. Start the day by saying or writing one thing you are grateful for.  2. Make a gratitude card in the morning. Write down something you are grateful for and review it during the day.  Share it with someone, or yourself at the end of the day.  3. Write a letter to someone you love expressing your appreciation for them.  details make it extra special.

Positive Thinking Movie Review: Tyler: A Real Hero (1994)

 

Tyler: A Real Hero (1994)

Tyler Wilkinson is somewhat of a local folk hero in Saint George.  (click on the title, not the picture.)  This movie was made about his circumstances some years ago.  Tyler Wilkinson is a motivational speaker.   This is a story about a young man who had everything going for him, Star football player, stake champion wrestler and baseball player.  However he fell asleep at the wheel, and rolled his vehicle, which resulted in spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. 
This movie is narrated by Steve Young.  The story really begins after the accident.  It is not easy to maintain your attitude in such circumstances.  However your attitude is necessary to regain as much capacity as possible.  This movie concludes with the announcement that Tyler married his high school sweet heart, Jennifer Orton.  This couple struggled, but Tyler became an investment consultant and has a successful career.  He and his wife have five children.  I found this quote in City Lifestyle about them, "they live intentionally, striving for gratitude and a healthy sense of humor to see them through the inevitable, day-to-day challenges."  Tyler and Jennifer (Orton) frequently give speeches.  Tyler concludes his speeches by encouraging people to pass it forward.
This movie tells a great story.  I just don't know why they had to add Paul James as the announcer for the football games.  This spoils rather than adds to the story.

Positive Thinking Book Report: Skill With People

This is an interesting booklet which I have from my Amway days.  It talks about how to be good at selling, but the principles can apply to many other situations.  It is written by Les Giblin.  He points out that people would rather talk about themselves than about anything else.  The focus of interactions should be on what the other person has to say.  It talks about the need to praise, but it must be sincere and it should focus on the act and not the person.  In like fashion criticism should be made in privacy, should start with a compliment, should be impersonal (focus on the act not the person), should supply the answer (the right way to do it), ask for cooperation, criticize each offense only once, and finish on a friendly note.  In dealing with people a grateful attitude is also essential.  Mean it when you say thank you, and say it clearly and distinctly, thank people by name, and look them in the eye when you thank them.  This little pamphlet is a good thing to consult frequently to keep you brain in the right place in working with others.  And to foster an attitude of gratitude.

**Gratitude and Health

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=1541 

As I have been studying health, it becomes clear that our attitude affects our health.  One of those attitudes is gratitude.  I am taking most of this from an article in Spark People by Ellen G. Goldman.  She describes attitude as a “personality strength.  If you possess a high level of gratitude, you often feel an emotional sense of wonder, thankfulness and appreciation for life itself.”  President Hinckley defines gratitude this way, “When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives”.

Gratitude is good for your health.  Quoting Goldman, “Individuals who exhibit the most gratitude are happier, healthier, and more energetic.  Grateful people report fewer symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, even acne, and spend more time exercising!  And the more a person is inclined towards gratitude, the less lonely, stressed, anxious and depressed he or she will be.”   

She list for things to help in practicing gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal; Express your gratitude; Look for what is right about a situation; and Practice gratitude with your family and friends.  As I look at these four goals, I see some room for self improvement.  I think the last is the area which would make the most difference in my life.  If I could practice gratitude with my family, I think it would create a much better atmosphere around home.  However, gratitude can be a habit of politeness, rather than an attitude of gratitude.  By this I mean, expressing thanks, without the feeling of gratitude behind it, will not suffice.  I think people can see when you are being false.  So the key is to actually feel grateful. 

My mother use to always quote the hymn, “Count Your Blessings” whenever I was getting down.  Sometimes it pays to stop and count blessings, really enumerate what is right in your life.