Other Titles

Leveraging an Attitude of Grattitude: Innovative Strategies in Improving Health and Wellness, Enhancing Workforce Engagement, and Participation in Professional Organizations [Symposium]

Abstract

Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015: Your attitude plays a large role in determining whether you can feel grateful in spite of life's challenges. According to gratitude researcherRobert Emmons, gratitude is just happiness that we recognize after-the-fact to have been caused by the kindness of others. Gratitude doesn't just make us happier; it is happiness in and of itself! According to Emmons, gratitude is defined by your attitude towards both the outside world and yourself. He suggests that those who are more aware of the positives in their lives tend to focus their attention outside of themselves. One of the most significant changes in today's healthcare system involves the workforce, where career opportunities abound and work roles are evolving. The ability to fully engage a current and growing workforce across systems is a challenge at all levels of the organization. Building a culture of gratitude in the workplace is not easy, but research tells us that an attitude of gratitude is a good health choice as well as a good management choice. Gratitude may actually be the key to happiness and can contribute to a healthier mind, body, and spirit. Gratitude is a nutrient for one's health, and it contributes to a happier, healthier work environment. The benefits of gratitude go beyond a sense of self-worth, self-efficacy, and trust between employees. By practicing gratitude, we are celebrating what brings us joy, directs our actions, and influences our outcomes. One of the many benefits to expressing gratitude consistently and freely is that it fosters an environment where people experience a greater sense of purpose. It is a innovative, visible demonstration of how we can all make a difference and the benefits are far-reaching. Practicing gratitude can increase work satisfaction and happiness in general, strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, relax the body, increase energy levels, facilitate healthy sleep, foster better interpersonal relationships and become an integral part of an employee health and wellness program. The simple act of acknowledging things to be grateful for can influence our thoughts, action and mood. As an organization, the ability to foster an attitude of gratitude across the system can have a significant impact on the work environment. The presenter will share the evidence base related to attitudes of gratitude and health outcomes. She will address innovations related to mindfulness, engagement, journaling and positivity through a gratitude exercise.

Description

43rd Biennial Convention 2015 Theme: Serve Locally, Transform Regionally, Lead Globally.`

Author Details

Sharon M. Weinstein, RN, CRNI, FACW, FAAN

Sigma Membership

Alpha Lambda

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Mindset, Health and Wellness, Gratitude

Conference Name

43rd Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Conference Year

2015

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Attitudes of Gratitude: Innovative Strategies in Improving Health and Wellness

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015: Your attitude plays a large role in determining whether you can feel grateful in spite of life's challenges. According to gratitude researcherRobert Emmons, gratitude is just happiness that we recognize after-the-fact to have been caused by the kindness of others. Gratitude doesn't just make us happier; it is happiness in and of itself! According to Emmons, gratitude is defined by your attitude towards both the outside world and yourself. He suggests that those who are more aware of the positives in their lives tend to focus their attention outside of themselves. One of the most significant changes in today's healthcare system involves the workforce, where career opportunities abound and work roles are evolving. The ability to fully engage a current and growing workforce across systems is a challenge at all levels of the organization. Building a culture of gratitude in the workplace is not easy, but research tells us that an attitude of gratitude is a good health choice as well as a good management choice. Gratitude may actually be the key to happiness and can contribute to a healthier mind, body, and spirit. Gratitude is a nutrient for one's health, and it contributes to a happier, healthier work environment. The benefits of gratitude go beyond a sense of self-worth, self-efficacy, and trust between employees. By practicing gratitude, we are celebrating what brings us joy, directs our actions, and influences our outcomes. One of the many benefits to expressing gratitude consistently and freely is that it fosters an environment where people experience a greater sense of purpose. It is a innovative, visible demonstration of how we can all make a difference and the benefits are far-reaching. Practicing gratitude can increase work satisfaction and happiness in general, strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, relax the body, increase energy levels, facilitate healthy sleep, foster better interpersonal relationships and become an integral part of an employee health and wellness program. The simple act of acknowledging things to be grateful for can influence our thoughts, action and mood. As an organization, the ability to foster an attitude of gratitude across the system can have a significant impact on the work environment. The presenter will share the evidence base related to attitudes of gratitude and health outcomes. She will address innovations related to mindfulness, engagement, journaling and positivity through a gratitude exercise.