🏁 Axios Finish Line: Attitude of gratitude

Plus: A challenge! | Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By JPMorgan Chase   Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Nov 22, 2022 Nov 22, 2022 Welcome back! Smart Brevity™ count: 296 words ... 1½ mins.     1 big thing: The power of active gratitude Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Whether we spend our time dwelling on things we're grateful for or noodling on things that upset us matters. 🖼️ The big picture: Shifting our attitudes to focus on giving thanks — not just during the holiday — has a direct link to our wellbeing. 💼 Case in point: In one study, psychologists recruited a group of participants and asked half to take time weekly to write a few sentences about things they were grateful for from that week. The other half wrote about irritations or complaints. After 10 weeks, the group that centered on gratitude felt more optimistic about life than their counterparts. The gratitude group saw physical changes as well. They exercised more and made fewer doctor visits than the group that focused on the negative aspects of life. Another study by researchers from Kent State University tested the effect of writing letters of gratitude to other people. The results were clear: Taking the time to say thank you in writing made people happier, more satisfied with life and even decreased symptoms of depression. The bottom line: We feel grateful for all sorts of blessings in life, but most of us rarely take the time to think about those things — let alone write them down. But studies show that taking an active approach to gratitude can have tangible and lasting effects on our mental wellbeing. Try it! Share this story.     A message from JPMorgan Chase The power of a second chance     Henry Edwards was ready to work, but his criminal background made access to stable employment difficult. JPMorgan Chase is helping to advance a more inclusive economy by clearing pathways for the 1 in 3 Americans with criminal backgrounds. Read Henry's story.     💌 Gratitude challenge If you have a few minutes amid holiday preparations in the next 24 hours, write a couple sentences about something big or small you're grateful for in your life. Send us your thoughts, including your name and hometown, to finishline@axios.com. We'll feature a selection of responses in a special gratitude edition Wednesday night.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: