Ladies’ Home Journal: What sparked your interest in the power of gratitude? Deborah Norville: In my own life I started to notice that when I was more positive and grateful, good things would happen to me. But I wondered if my mind was playing a game with me—the same way my little boy is sure that wearing his lucky jersey helps him score. So I started reading through scientific journals and talking to researchers and discovered that there was real science behind what my intuition was picking up. LHJ: What did the experts find? DN: Studies show that people who express gratitude are happier, which can cause them to think better. When we’re happy, the chemical dopamine is released in the part of the brain that stimulates logic and reason. Researchers also found that people who focus on what they’re thankful for are more resilient. It’s as if gratitude acts like a shield against stress. LHJ: What’s the one thing each of us can do to gain the benefits of counting our blessings? DN: At the end of the day do a “gratitude check.” Jot down three things that happened for which you are grateful in a little notebook. Doing this forces you to focus on what went right that day and puts your mind on something positive just before you go to sleep. —Kimberly Papa