(Newswire.net — February 16, 2013) Seymour TN –Feb. 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day, a day created to encourage people to do something kind for others. Expressing gratitude is one kind of thoughtful act that has well-researched psychological benefits. On Feb. 17, Brookhaven Retreat encourages women to express gratitude to others as a way of improving mental health and encouraging positive emotions.
Gratitude emphasizes the things that women are thankful for and encourages positive thought processes, so that positive emotions become a natural, ingrained habit. But gratitude can do more than elevate spirits. In “Gratitude and well-being: a review of theoretical integration,” three researchers note that habitually appreciating life results in greater psychological well-being.
According to gratitude researchers Drs. Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, people who practice gratitude have healthier life habits: they eat more nutritiously, exercise regularly and attend routine medical appointments more often than those who don’t practice gratitude. A Hofstra University study reported that practicing gratitude reduces levels of depression and pain.
Gratitude promotes positive emotions, creates an optimistic outlook and improves mental and physical health. Its resulting positive attitude makes a significant difference in recovery from depression, bipolar and other mental health issues.
Women at Brookhaven Retreat express gratitude in a variety of ways. Weekly kudos to peers and staff members give women an opportunity to express gratefulness to those around them. Journaling allows women to try keeping a gratitude journal that encourages creating a routine of positive thoughts. Mindfulness exercises cultivate awareness and stress reduction, and help women focus on the things for which they are grateful.
For Random Acts of Kindness Day, Brookhaven Retreat encourages all women to express gratitude to those who have positively impacted their lives, and try to begin a gratitude routine. If continued, this habit of gratitude makes happiness, optimism and positivity habit, and trains the brain to think in a more positive way. This healthy habit supports mental wellness and is an integral part of recovery from bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Through gratitude, women take one step further toward creating a life worth living.
About Brookhaven Retreat
Brookhaven Retreat is a women’s treatment center nestled on a naturally beautiful 48-acre site secluded in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. It has helped hundreds of women across the United States overcome depression, trauma, anxiety, substance use and a range of other behavioral health challenges. Brookhaven’s Founder, Jacqueline Dawes, has predicated its gender-specific treatment on “healing emotional breakage” for women. In this way, she has established a sanctuary and a place where women can feel safe, secure and cared for by a staff of highly trained professionals.