Springfield - Gratitude Month

"Rev. Galen Guengerich, the charismatic, brilliant leader of one of the nation's most prominent Unitarian congregations, All Souls Church, shares with readers his wisdom on how to lead a spiritual life through the practice of gratitude. When Guengerich was in his mid-twenties, he left the Conservative Mennonite Church, the faith of his upbringing. He was scared, but he needed to set out to find the way of life that was right for him. For Guengerich,...

After being dared by his son, A. J. Jacobs decided to thank every single person involved in producing his morning cup of coffee. The resulting journey takes him across the globe and transforms his life.

Psychologist Tara Cousineau draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to show how compassion and empathy are hardwired into our DNA and essential to our survival. This book teaches effective skills in compassion, mindfulness, and social and emotional learning, and reveals successful social policy initiatives in empathy taking place that inform everything from family life to education to the workplace.

" Paul Williams is an alcoholic. Tracey Jackson is not. But together, these two close friends have written Gratitude and Trust, a book designed to apply the principles of the recovery movement to the countless people who are not addicts but nevertheless need effective help with their difficulties and pain. Williams, the award-winning songwriter, actor, and performer, has embraced a traditional alcoholism recovery plan for more than two decades of...

A collection of brief essays aimed at providing inspiration for readers who would like to lead a more joyous life and appreciate what they have.

Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology Dr. Robert Emmons draws on the first major scientific study of the subject to show how the systematic cultivation of gratitude can measurably change people's lives. People who regularly practice grateful thinking can increase their "set point" for happiness by as much as 25 percent. These increases can be sustained over a period of months--challenging the previously held notion that our set points...