Psychology instructor and researcher Christina Costa was working on her PhD when she was referred to get an MRI and discovered a large brain tumor in her right temporal lobe that was later diagnosed as grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma.

In this talk, Christina connects her experience of living with brain cancer to her field of study and explains why tools of gratitude can increase our well-being and what is happening in our brains when we experience and express gratitude.

You can find Christina on Instagram @ms.christinacosta and her book ‘Kiss Your Brain’: Diagnosis Diaries can be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Christina Costa is a PhD Psychology Candidate at the University of Michigan. She researches the psychology of well-being in addition to teaching undergraduate psychology and is specifically interested in well-being for teachers and the science of gratitude. Last year, Christina was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare and severe brain tumor. Christina has used gratitude as a tool to help maintain her personal well-being throughout her treatment. In her talk, Christina shares some of the lessons she has learned through her research and experience about the power of gratitude in her life, and how it can be used to change yours. She holds a B.A. and M.S. from the University of Michigan. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx