The Power of Gratitude: Appreciation Boosts Well-Being

October 20, 2023

New Paws-Up Feature Provides Avenue for Uplifting Colleagues Through Gratitude

cute fluffy friends a cat and a dog catch a flying butterfly in a sunny summer garden

This October as we celebrate National Veterinary Nurses Appreciation Week, the PVM Wellness Committee would like to highlight how we all can take advantage of a popular evidence-based strategy to boost our collective well-being. Research shows that both extending, and receiving, gratitude can have a profound impact on workplace well-being and career satisfaction.

What are some of the benefits of expressing gratitude? Regularly sharing gratitude has been linked to reduced stress, lower rates of depression, and increased happiness. It helps people focus on the positive aspects of their work life. Another benefit of extending gratitude is that it promotes stronger relationships among team members. Recognizing our colleagues’ efforts creates a culture of respect and cooperation in our workplace.

What are some of the benefits of receiving gratitude? In addition to simply feeling good, being on the receiving end of gratitude can help to reinforce our sense of accomplishment and self-worth. When employees feel valued they are more likely to enjoy their work which can lead to more job satisfaction and decreased turnover. Being recognized can help improve our motivation to continue giving our best effort and it can energize our engagement. For 31 more scientifically supported benefits of gratitude, read this article by Happier Human.

Considering all the benefits of gratitude, the PVM Wellness Committee is introducing a new Vet Gazette feature, called “Paws Up.”

“Paws Up” gives everyone at PVM the opportunity to share gratitude throughout our community by recognizing a person (student, staff, or faculty), or team/department who did something to brighten your day, or, who you would like to highlight for their “behind the scenes” job which helps keep PVM functioning well on a daily basis. Please consider contributing to this effort by clicking here to make your submission.

Submissions for “Paws Up” should be 75 words or less and include the name of the person or team you are nominating, the PVM department they work for, and describe how they brightened your day, helped you do your job better, or kept things running smoothly behind the scenes.

Submissions will be published anonymously in the Vet Gazette and spread throughout the year. The Vet Gazette team may edit submissions for grammar, length, and clarity before publication. We are looking forward to reading more about the wonderful people who uplift our community through your submissions!

Writer(s): PVM Wellness Committee | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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