1. Gratitude as an Action Plan
Carol Bailey Floyd
Director of Programs
Mental Health Recovery and WRAP

2. Thank you very much
for joining us today!

3. Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons!
-- Ruth Ann Schabacker

4. Gratitude Study
Studies conducted by Michael McCullough, PhD. from the University of Miami and Robert A. Emmons, PhD. from the University of California – Davis separated subjects into three control groups with a focus on one of the following: 1. hassles 2. things for which they were grateful 3. ordinary life events

5. The benefits revealed from the gratitude groups were very surprising!

6. Benefits of Gratitude
Grateful people are more: • optimistic • energetic • enthusiastic
• determined • interested • joyful

7. More Benefits of Gratitude
Grateful people: • feel stronger about handling challenges • have fewer illnesses • get more sleep • exercise more

8. Even More Benefits of Gratitude
Grateful people: • are more likely to help other people • have less cluttered environments • are less envious • have more clear thinking

9. More and More Benefits!
Grateful people: • have better resilience during tough times • experience less stress • are more organized • have higher immune response

10. The Last Four Listed Benefits
Grateful people: • have closer family ties • are less materialistic • make more progress toward goals • have longer lives!

11. Gratitude is FREE!

12. Gratitude has the power to turn challenges into possibilities, problems into solutions, and losses into gains.
-- Daniel T. Peralla

13. You may be thankful to:
• The Universe
• Your Higher Power
• God
• Yourself
• Someone or something else

14. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. -- Melodie Beattie

15. Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
• Wellness Toolbox • Daily Maintenance (3 parts) • Triggers and Action Plan • Early Warning Signs and Action Plan • Things Breaking Down and Action Plan

16. Wellness Recovery Action Plan
• Crisis Plan • Post Crisis Plan

17. The Action Plan Aspect of WRAP
• Using wellness tools for action plans • Doing positive actions in response to negative events • Diminishing or eliminating triggers and early warning signs • Gratitude as a powerful action plan

18. Gratitude Action Plans
Help you to: • make improvements • create change • face challenges • make a difference • take your power back

19. Gratitude Action Plans
• Counting good things – 10, 20, write • Gratitude list at night – Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach • Gratitude list in the morning • Emergency thank you therapy

20. Gratitude Action Plans
• Thank you notes – especially unexpected • Gratitude file of received thank you notes • Gratitude List – 100 things (post) • Ask a friend what makes them grateful

21. Gratitude Action Plans
• Focusing on what is right and not on what is wrong • Raising your awareness level with gratitude • Mindful gratitude in times of stress

22. Gratitude Action Plans
• Gratitude ABCs for going to sleep • Showing gratitude to other people - hugs - handshakes - appreciative words • Being grateful for hope

23. Quotation Therapy as an Action Plan
“You can’t be unhappy and grateful at the same time.” – unknown “The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have.” – Woody Allen “Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses.” – Alphonse Karr “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so let us all be thankful.” – Buddha

24. Examples of Gratitude
Unconditional Gratitude Therapeutic Gratitude Transformational Gratitude

25. GoodListDaily.com AllAboutGratitude.com YouTube.com – Gratitude Dance!
Gratitude Websites
GoodListDaily.com AllAboutGratitude.com YouTube.com – Gratitude Dance!

26. Thank you for joining us today! Questions or comments?