Thanksgiving: Scientific Facts About Gratitude

Recently some of the DML leadership team spent time looking at an article that discussed some scientific facts about gratitude.  This was not an article written by a Christian (as far as I know) or by someone who referred to the Bible verse which says that we are to be "grateful in all things."  

The author gave the following facts:

1. Gratitude is good for your cholesterol and lower blood pressure.
2. Gratitude can improve your sleep.
3. Grateful people spend more time exercising.
4. Females are more grateful than males, from an early age onward.
5. Gratitude can help you achieve your goals.
6. You can overdo it - which is explained by saying that if you view it as a chore, it might not have the positive effect. 
7. People are less likely to express gratitude at work than anywhere else.  Only 10% of people say thank you to their colleagues on any given day, and 60% of people never express gratitude at work.

Some of these can generate some interesting conversations around the Thanksgiving table this week - for example, thankfulness relating to gender - what about cultures or people groups?  Are some more thankful than others?  Is it related to contentedness or simply politeness?

But it is the last one that caught my attention - our lack of gratitude at work.  At DML we have seen the impact of seeing work as worship, understanding that work is not drudgery or a mere means to get money (which is never enough!).  When work is understood as a gift, that we have been created to create and to do work that contributes to flourishing of all, it can help us do a 180-degree change in our attitude about work.  And when we understand the positives of gratitude, we recognize that it is not just good for our colleagues and customers, but also for our own health!

I encourage you to ask these questions around the table this week:

1. What are you grateful for at work?
2. What is God doing at your workplace?  Where is He at work?
3. How can you join Him in that work?

Happy Thanksgiving from the DML team, for whom I am so grateful!  Allow me to share some pictures of our summit that convey the joy and family atmosphere that we have, hoping that it will put a smile on your face as well!