HEALTH & WELLNESS
Grateful to serve
As the seasons change, I begin to think about
my life and how grateful I am for my many bless-
ings. In the law enforcement world, we know that
any minute could see your life change. The world
is full of hardships, trauma, crises and suffering.
It is also full of triumphs and joy and gifts that
come in the form of people and opportunity, so
no two days are the same.
CHERIE
The joke that I always reference in presenta-
CASTELLANO
tions
about the “ducks” and the “eagles” exempli-
Cop2Cop
fies this idea of gratitude, based on a story from
one of my mentors: Dr. Jim Reese, FBI behavioral science unit
director. Jim believed that “nature” was something you were
born with and he described two types of cops, “ducks” and
“eagles.”
The ducks were the cops who always complained about
everything. No matter what you did for them, they were al-
ways negative, the disgruntled victim. Jim would say that their
complaints sounded like the quacking of a duck. In contrast,
some cops who are grateful and resilient rise above whatev-
er obstacles they meet and “soar like an eagle” to get things
done. We all want to be eagles, but it is easier said than done.
Grateful people have lots of positive outcomes in their lives.
According to Psychology Today, a 2014 study explains the sev-
en benefits to being grateful:
1.
Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Not
only does saying “thank you” constitute good manners,
but showing appreciation can help you win new friends,
according to a 2014 study published in Emotion. The
study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes
him or her more likely to seek an ongoing relationship.
So whether you thank a stranger for holding the door
or send a thank-you note to that colleague who helped
you with a project, acknowledging other people’s con-
tributions can lead to new opportunities.
2. Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people
experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling
healthier than other people, according to a 2012 study
published in Personality and Individual Differences.
Not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to
take care of their health. They exercise more often and
are more likely to attend regular check-ups, which is
likely to contribute to further longevity.
3. Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude
reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and
resentment to frustration and regret. Robert Emmons,
a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple
studies on the link between gratitude and well-being.
His research confirms that gratitude effectively increas-
es happiness and reduces depression.
4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression.
Grateful people are more likely to behave in a proso-
cial manner, even when others behave less kindly, ac-
cording to a 2012 study by the University of Kentucky.
Study participants who ranked higher on gratitude
scales were less likely to retaliate against others, even
when given negative feedback. They experienced more
sensitivity and empathy toward other people and a de-
creased desire to seek revenge.
5. Grateful people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude jour-
nal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study in Ap-
plied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15
minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before
bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
6. Gratitude improves self-esteem. A 2014 study in the
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that grati-
tude increased athletes’ self-esteem, an essential com-
ponent to optimal performance. Other studies have
shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons.
Rather than becoming resentful toward people who
have more money or better jobs — a major factor in re-
duced self-esteem — grateful people are able to appre-
ciate other people’s accomplishments.
7. Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, re-
search has shown that gratitude not only reduces stress,
but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma.
A 2006 study in Behavior Research and Therapy found
that Vietnam War veterans with higher levels of grati-
tude experienced lower rates of post-traumatic stress
disorder. A 2003 study in the Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology found that gratitude was a major con-
tributor to resilience following the terrorist attacks on
9/11. Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for —
even during the worst times — fosters resilience.
After 10 years in law enforcement, some studies indicate
that you may be prone to cynicism. Fight that tendency if
possible, despite what you see or the injustices in this world.
Cynicism leads to sickness, anger, broken relationships and
dreams. Gratitude is better for your health.
The message that I want to send to you is one of gratitude
as I thank God for you, every law enforcement officer in New
Jersey, for your heroism and service every day. My husband
and my children are evidence of God’s grace in my life, so I can
never thank them enough for their love.
Even this job, after 20 years at Cop2Cop, is a daily reminder
of how grateful I am to the amazing officers who answer the
call when another cop is in need. My mother said that my first
words were “thank you” when I was young, so I guess it is part
of my nature. Hopefully I can stay that way, because gratitude
may be a matter of life and death. Be an eagle.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ OCTOBER 2018 89