Developing awe and gratitude is good for health

Polett Villalta scuba diving off Key Largo, Fla., 
next to the statue Christ of the Abyss, left. 
PHOTO: VETERANS OCEAN ADVENTURES 
her story is awesome

Read three articles today that may improve our health and relationships to others. The Wall Street Journal Elizabeth Bernstein wrote an article of researchers studying “awe” and finding it is good for relationships. Awe improves our health as well. The feeling of awe makes us care about others. A Dr. Kelter Took 56 inner city kids on a rafting trip for a week and researchers found the kids were more curious and engaged about what was happening in the world.

Awe helps fight depression because it lowers inflammation which is a factor in depression. Awe attunes us to things bigger than ourselves. It actually increases kindness and compassion toward others. The evidence that supports the feeling of awe is still a little soft. Awe can be religious, nature (creation my word) a sports event or political rally Ms. Bernstein reports. We may be in awe or amazed at others things or people. What ever it is, it is good for us and others and in the fat man terms keep us walking. http://www.wsj.com/articles/researchers-study-awe-and-find-it-is-good-for-relationships-1424717882 

Pastor Rick Warren whose Church shares The Daniel Plan informs us the more grateful you are, the happier you are. Sometimes the longer we know somebody, the more we take them for granted. Replacing a negative thought with thanks can have an impact on how we feel. It also has a direct impact on the person we say things to. If you're not thankful don't fake it. Find something else to be thankful about. Apostle Paul could say concerning the Philippians, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (NLT). Philippians 1:3 http://danielplan.com/blogs/dp/the-more-grateful-you-are-the-happier-you-are-2/

A reporter recently died for the New York Times. Many people said kind things and thanks for the reporter. Greta Van Susteren laments "Wouldn’t it nice if we could say those things before a person dies." It reminds me to say things or write thanks in the land of the living. It is an easy way to make people feel better. 

From the Daniel plan Dee Eastman and Shelly Antol wrote an article about creating space for solitude. It seems to me if we have a place of silence we can create moments of awe and thanks more often. Since positive attitudes have a direct impact on our physical and mental health increasing good thinking would be a good idea. 

In the hustle and bustle of our life silence can be a little hard getting used to. The article quotes Henry Nouwen “without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and a place for God, and him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in their lives-healing, teaching and guiding-we need to set aside a time and space to give him individual attention.” Mother Teresa is quoted to have said, “silence is essential in a religious house… there is no life of prayer without silence… God is a friend of silence.” http://danielplan.com/blogs/dp/creating-space-for-solitude/

The other day I wrote about aloneness and I think this is part of it. Keep walking