The Gratitude Effect Positivity Journal: 90 Days to Rewire Your Brain

by Randy E. Kamen

Overview

Engage the science of positivity for greater health and happiness.

Gratitude is a powerful emotion that conveys appreciation for a moment that has touched you in some way and moves you to express thankfulness. When you experience gratitude, your brain releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, resulting in a host of tangible benefits associated with positive thinking and emotions. Practiced regularly, gratitude literally rewires your brain to be more optimistic, flexible, and joyful, while simultaneously reducing stress and anxiety, building resilience to adversity, and strengthening your immune system, cardiac health, sleep hygiene, and more. These many positive changes to your health and well-being are “the gratitude effect,” and because these effects are cumulative, the more you practice gratitude, the greater its impact over time.

With The Gratitude Effect Positivity Journal, you’ll engage your brain’s neuroplasticity to reshape your worldview—and retrain your brain for greater joy, resiliency, and personal empowerment.

• A simple framework using brief moments of gratitude to override negativity bias and adopt a positive mindset
• Practical strategies to overcome negative thinking, grounded in neuroscience and positive psychology
• A 90-day gratitude journal with intention setting to cultivate positive thinking in just a few minutes a day
• Inspirational quotations, tips, and writing prompts to get positivity flowing on days when you feel stuck

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593690062
Publisher:	Zeitgeist
Publication date:	01/09/2024
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.99(w) x 7.98(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Randy E. Kamen, EdD, is a psychologist, coach, educator, and author of Behind the Therapy Door: Simple Strategies to Transform Your Life. Her aim is to help people embody their inner wisdom and leadership skills in both the personal and professional arenas. She pioneered new territory in mind-body medicine and positive psychology at Boston University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry and Harvard Medical School. She trained faculty, staff, and students to manage stress, pain, and psychosomatic disorders while improving resiliency, communication, and leadership abilities.

Dr. Kamen continues to lead global online programs, workshops, and retreats for corporations, hospitals, and academic institutions. She weaves together evidenced-based skills and strategies for mind management, self-regulation, healthy relationships, and living one’s personal vision. Dr. Kamen uses the Thera-Coaching process to help individuals gain understanding and resolution with their past in the service of moving forward and cultivating an intentional and purpose-driven life.

Read an Excerpt

Change Your Focus to Change Your Brain

We have all witnessed the rapid brain growth that happens during the first few years of a child’s life. Research shows that although this process slows down in adulthood, it continues to occur throughout life. As we learn and gain new experiences, some neural connections are strengthened while others are minimized or eliminated, a process called synaptic pruning. This ability to create new neural pathways and alter or reinforce existing ones is known as neuroplasticity,or brain plasticity; it refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of our experiences—both positive and negative.
In 1949, Donald Hebb, often referred to as the father ofneuropsychology, famously said, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, the brain reinforces what we repeatedly focus on. With that in mind, it behooves us to deliberately adjust our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to hardwire positive memories and experiences into the brain. By practicing gratitude regularly, we proactively train our brains to notice the good in life. In doing so, we build a foundation of positive memories and experiences. We can then draw upon this wealth of positivity to boost and support us when difficulties arise. Over time, we learn to become better observers of the good in our lives and simultaneously become more appreciative—and when the inevitable losses and challenges come along, we have internalized resources to draw upon.
Because of the brain’s extraordinary capacity to continue to grow and strengthen new neural networks, it is possible to change our mindset, even despite genetics, past trauma, or life circumstances. But to do so, we must first learn how to overcome certain propensities we have inherited from our ancestors.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“I’ve taught thousands of clients and students about the incredible power of a gratitude practice to change life for the better, so I know that while the benefits of a gratitude practice are widely accepted, the 'how to' isn’t always so clear or easy to implement. In her latest book, The Gratitude Effect, Dr. Randy Kamen offers the perfect step-by-step guide for building and strengthening one’s 'gratitude muscle.'  Seamlessly weaving the psychological and spiritual components of gratefulness with the latest in science and research, she creates a compelling invitation to spend 90 days bulking up on gratitude.” –Emily Boorstein, life coach and founder of the Inner Fitness Program at Rancho La Puerta

“The Gratitude Effect is a wonderful resource for anyone who wishes to reap the life-changing benefits of a simple gratitude practice. I love how the book combines a practical guide with the 90-day journal, allowing readers to flip back to Dr. Kamen’s encouraging words and thoughtful prompts whenever they feel stuck while journaling. It’s brilliant.” –Julia Zeuner, LMSW, executive director of 60+ programs at The 92nd Street Y, New York
 
“In The Gratitude Effect, Dr. Randy Kamen presents readers with a clear and concise guide to minimize negativity and optimize authentic positivity. As an executive career consultant and coach who supports individuals during periods of growth and transition—an often stressful time for people—I see tremendous value in her simple, step-by-step approach to cultivating a positive mindset. Dr. Kamen’s guidance around reframing—a concept from cognitive behavioral therapy—and its importance for achieving this positivity was particularly transformative. For that alone, I am grateful for this simple yet powerful book.” –Elaine Nordby, executive career coach, NYC

"I am so thankful for The Gratitude Effect Positivity Journal. I appreciated both the 'learning' parts, such as the primer about how practicing gratitude changes our neural pathways, and the 'doing' parts, such as the daily journaling pages. Working through this book has been such a refreshing reminder to slow down and reflect on what I already have in my life instead of focusing on all that I still need to do—a real godsend for my anxiety and my endless to-do list as a business leader and mentor to many. I intend to incorporate this into my curriculum as a tool for clients who want to grow their gratitude and positivity. Finally, I absolutely loved being able to use the 'gratitude tracker' to chart my own progress. What a simple, yet profound gift from Dr. Kamen!" –Julie Landi, founder & coach of Live Your Vision Transformational Coaching for Women