Hi, this is Dr. Ellen Hendrickson, and you are listening to episode 32 of the savvy psychologist.

I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero

judgment. We'll use the best of psychology to help you be happy, healthy, and most importantly,

yourself.

Gratitude has roared on to the positive psychology scene

and while it's intuitive that feeling thankful and appreciative improves our outlook and indeed our lives,

why is it so good for us? What does it do?

This week, here are five benefits of gratitude and four tips to celebrate your own small

tea Thanksgiving.

Benefit number one, gratitude bonds us to other people. Gratitude is a social emotion.

As we navigate through a social world,

social emotions give us feedback

about our interactions with others.

But unlike embarrassment, shame, or contempt, gratitude is a positive social emotion that

helps bond us to others.

When we feel thankful and appreciative of others, we feel closer to them.

And Psych 101, plus about a zillion studies, will tell you that strong social connections

make us happier and healthier.

Dr Martin Seligman, founder of the positive psychology movement, along with some colleagues,

carried out what was quite possibly the world's happiest study in 2005.

In it, they asked participants to try five different happiness exercises.

Most exercises were focused on the self.

...