Power of Graditude

[Kelley Sacco]

Please respond to Randy Johnson at actrand at frontiernet.net.


------ Forwarded Message
> From: "Randy and Jane Johnson" <actrand at frontiernet.net>
> Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 11:02:59 -0500
> To: <sacco at cmu.edu>
> Subject: request to post
>
> Dear Ms. Sacco:
>
> I've been referred to you list to investigate an
> area of interest I have.  I guess I don't have authority to make a posting.
> Can you please review the topic and let me know what you think?  Thank you.
> Randy Johnson
>
> (Topic)
> I've been fascinated with the nature of human communication for over thirty
> years, having a degree in Communication Disorders, and running a few Speech
> and Language Clinics in years past.  I've recently been very taken with
> insights from Brother David Stendl Rast on the power of gratitude
> (www.gratefulness.org).  He draws an interesting insight that sees the
> experience of 'gratitude' as a source of happiness.  The expression of this
> gratitude through 'thank you' further enhances our sense of belonging and
> consequent happiness.  It seems that all research on acquisition of the
> pragmatic function of 'thank you' has been aimed at development of social
> mannerism.  Is anyone aware of a longitudinal study that's looked at a child's
> sense of well being, balance and achievement in relation to focused
> instruction in this skill of using 'thank you' as a source of happiness for
> the one expressing gratitude in addition to awareness of approval from the
> person who sent the gift?
>
>
>
> In effect, this training would teach the child to shift perspective from
> what's not working to expression of gratitude for what is working, with
> expression of gratitude and awareness of consequent happiness.
>
>
>
> I've checked with some leaders in the field of communication disorders and
> suspect some lack of interest since this area of study seems to deal more with
> going beyond 'normal' function, similar to the differentiation between
> psychology and transpersonal psychology.  Others have tried to reserve this to
> the realm of religion.  Yet, I can see grounds for sound scientific study in
> this area with great implications for the health and welfare of the individual
> and society.
>
>
>
> If you have an interest in this area or know of others that do, please help
> me.  Thank you.
>

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