New Book Proves Gratitude Benefits Mind, Body, and Soul

A revolutionary new book to be released this summer will make people think twice about holding a grudge. According to Dr. Robert Emmons, psychology professor and research scientist at the University of California at Davis, people who view life as a gift and consciously acquire an "attitude of gratitude" will experience multiple advantages - and he can prove it. In "Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier," Dr. Emmons backs up his claim with eight years of intensive research on gratitude.

"Without gratitude, life can be lonely, depressing and impoverished," said Dr. Emmons, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology and the first-ever scientific psychologist to conduct such a study. "Gratitude enriches human life. It elevates, energizes, inspires, and transforms. People are moved, opened, and humbled through expressions of gratitude."

In "Thanks!" Dr. Emmons says that adopting a lifestyle of gratitude takes a conscious effort. People must give up a "victim mentality" and overcome a sense of entitlement and deservedness acquired through our consumer culture. As a result, Dr. Emmons says they will experience significant improvements in several areas of life - relationships, academics, energy level, and even dealing with tragedy and crisis. Examples of his scientific findings include:

· Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress.

· Maintaining a gratitude journal for three weeks resulted in better sleep quality and duration, more energy and even more time spent exercising.

· A grateful approach to life can be one of the most effective ways of coping with disease, disability, and even death.

"I intend for this book to provoke intellectual interest as well as self-examination," said Dr. Emmons. "My hope is that 'Thanks!' inspires readers to make life-altering decisions."

For nearly a decade Dr. Emmons has focused his research on gratitude and credits The John Templeton Foundation who awarded him a grant in 1999 to further examine the topic. He is the author of many published books and articles including: "The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns: Motivation and Spirituality in Personality."

Published by Houghton Mifflin, "Thanks!" is hardback and 256-pages. It retails for $25.00 U.S./$33.95 CAN. and can be found August 6, 2007, anywhere books are sold.