Rational thinking keeps us anchored in a stress mindset.

I recently suggested having a gratitude wall at a scientific conference, where people could write down something for which they are grateful. The committee liked the idea, although one person suggested having some evidence based literature available to convince the data oriented scientists of the benefit of practicing gratitude. One can see the inherent oxymoron. Gratitude lifts us out of our stress mindset. It is an experience that is interfered with by analysis and convincing. The same with mediation. If you need proof that it is beneficial, then don’t bother. If you are curious and open to possibilities, then give it a try and see what happens.