Gratitude: Good Medicine for Stress and Striving
By Carole Pertofsky
Gratitude for the small and big things in life can have transformative effects on mental health. It can clear the space usually occupied by stress and open the mind up to a more positive outlook.
How do we achieve more gratitude in our everyday lives? Carole Pertofsky, the Director of Stanford’s Wellness and Health Promotion Services, addresses the importance of gratitude and its healing effects, and shares tools that can open you up to feeling more grateful every day.
Pertofsky was inspired by a student who dropped out of her class because the practice of wellness conflicted with the practice of perfectionism. Pertofsky fears that students may adopt mindsets reaching success is oftentimes at the expense of personal well-being. For Pertofsky, gratitude is the antidote to stress. It provides fulfillment and inner peace. Feeling thankful leads to feeling inwardly connected, more aligned with one’s purpose and even boosts the immune system. Pertofksky offers simple daily practices that can increase mindfulness, human connection and feelings of gratitude. Some methods include sending thank-you notes or texts to people, thanking those around you at work, and observing people with an empathetic mindset.
To find out more on the importance of gratitude from Project Happiness, read the full blog post here: Gratitude: Good Medicine for Stress and Striving