While doing more research for my research project on gratitude and well-being, I thought it would be interesting to find out what occurs in the brain during moments of gratitude. When I began writing a week of “Three Good Things”, I was a little skeptical of the outcome. From reading other classmates blogs, I have read and discovered that this process hasn’t worked for them. When finding sources that backup their statement, it was a little difficult, but I know that this experiment couldn’t have worked for everyone. I find psychology very interesting, and wanted to know the science behind this research.
After a week of recording “Three Good Things”, I found myself happier. Whenever I would experience a gratitude moment, I would look back and think in the moment on how much I appreciated and cherished that moment which I had never done before. According to neuroscientist and a 2009 National Institute of Health study, practicing gratitude can cause the brain to improve mood and trigger a blood flow to the hypothalamus which controls sleep patterns and stress levels (Emmons, Medibank.com). Gratitude can activate the neurotransmitter dopamine to the brain as well which can improve mood (Emmons, Medibank.com). Feeling happier after the experiment would explain why I felt an impact on my well-being. It is so easy to focus on the negative, but by participating in this process, I was able to recognize and focus on the positive and reflect on the goodness in my life. In my earlier blog post, I used my sociology class as a source to this project. After doing a thorough editing session with my teacher, I realized that I didn’t want to use that information in my research. It included the cause of suicide which I don’t want to get to deep into because I want to focus mainly on me. Although, I may do more research on why college-aged students are so unhappy and how the three good things could be a process to improve their well-being.
2 Comments
"I was able to recognize and focus on the positive and reflect on the goodness in my life." That's awesome that this process let you recognize something positive as it was happening. I did not experience this but would hope to after maybe retrying the process.
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Nicole Strasinski
11/29/2018 08:02:45 am
At first I was nervous too with if it would work or not.I am really glad it ended up leaving a positive effect on you though!
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Chrissie FackenthallI will use this blog to write and post weekly assignments for my English Composition I course at Delaware County Community College Archives
December 2018
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