CM 063: Janice Kaplan on the Power of Gratitude
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Gratitude has a dramatic impact on well-being and success, yet many of us are not aware of this research.

In this groundbreaking book, The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life, Janice Kaplan explains the science behind the power of gratitude. The author of twelve books, including The New York Times bestselling memoir, I will See you Again, Janice was an award-winning producer at ABC-TV Good Morning America, Executive Producer of the TV Guide Television Group, and Editor-in-Chief of Parade Magazine.

In this episode, Janice explains the surprising, counterintuitive connection between gratitude and happiness. She also shares simple steps we can take today to increase the amount of gratitude we express and how doing it can change your life.

Here are some things that came up in our conversation:

	how a mindset of gratitude gives us control over our own happiness 
	simple steps you can take to express gratitude right now with family and friends
	the mental and physical health benefits of practicing gratitude
	90 percent believe gratitude makes us happier yet under 50 percent express it
	Our attitude toward life events determines how they impact us
	Choosing gratitude means gaining control and not waiting for happiness to arrive
	Gratitude is as simple as finding one thing each day to be grateful for
	When we appreciate others and show gratitude, they flourish
	Gratitude changes our brain
	Gratitude helps us sleep better, and lowers stress and blood pressure
	Experiences and interactions with others makes us happier than buying stuff
	Prioritizing gratitude helps us pay more attention
	Recognizing how fortunate we are helps us be more generous 
	81 percent say they would work harder for a grateful boss
	90 percent believe grateful bosses are more successful
	Being appreciated is highly motivating
	Ambition and gratitude play nicely together - can achieve and be appreciative
	Gratitude can get us out of the comparison game
	We are built to find redeeming value in difficult life events
	It is not happiness that makes us grateful but rather gratitude that makes us happy
	Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers figured out gratitude a long time ago
	Share a photo of something you are grateful for
	Send a text of gratitude

Episode Links

Parade Magazine

John Templeton Foundation

National Gratitude Survey

TSA

Habituation

Massachusetts General Hospital

Tom Gilovich

Paul Piff

Monopoly game

Daniel Gilbert

David Steindl Rast

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

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