Mental Fitness for Good Health

Gratitude Reduces Sleep Disturbances

Gratitude and sleep - Do you have problems sleeping?

Expressing gratitude can improve your sleep!

"If you want to sleep more soundly, count blessings, not sheep," said Dr. Robert E. Edmons.  He is the founding editor and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology.

Mike McCul-lough and Robert Edmons studied adults with neuromuscular disorders.  They studied people who suffered from fatigue, slowly progressive muscle weakness, muscle and joint pain, and muscular atrophy.  These people were encouraged to keep gratitude journals for two weeks.

Even people with chronic illnesses showed less negativism and more positive emotions than a control group.  They were more optimistic in their outlook on life.  They were happier.  They fell closer and more connected with people even though they had not increased their contact with people.  Even their spouses perceived them to be happier.

The findings on sleep were completely unexpected.  Dr. Edmon’s reported in his article, Pay It Forward, which was reported in the Greater Good Magazine.

"Participants in the gratitude condition also reported

1. getting more hours of sleep each night,
2. spending less time awake before falling asleep, and
3. feeling more refreshed upon awakening.

This finding is enormous, in that sleep disturbance and poor sleep quality have been identified as central indicators of poor overall well-being, as well as increased risk for physical disease and premature death. It may sound simplistic, but the evidence cannot be ignored: If you want to sleep more soundly, count blessings, not sheep."

Do you get the drift?  If you want to sleep better, focus on your blessings.  Focus on being grateful and train your mind to be grateful.  Thinking about blessings and you will live within an environment of gratitude.

The law of attraction works with gratitude.  Living a life of gratitude attracts happiness, contentment in relationships, less negativism, optimism and satisfaction in life.

Remember, You Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

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