“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

“As we travel with gratitude and share that feeling – like a ripple, it spreads across the world.” Larry Dvoskin

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.” A.A. Milne

In a world often bursting with challenges, it is critical to appreciate the power of gratitude as a human trait and virtue. Gratitude, as described by Diana Butler Bass in her book Grateful, is a multifaceted emotion that involves feelings of appreciation, humility, wonder, and interdependence. It is a response that emerges from certain circumstances, a natural acknowledgment of the positive aspects of life.
The impact of gratitude on our well-being and relationships cannot be underestimated. Studies conducted by experts like Robert A. Emmons and Michael McCullough reveal that those who keep gratitude journals exercise more regularly, experience fewer symptoms of illness, and may recover from illnesses more swiftly. Gratitude enhances emotional well-being, fosters optimism, happiness, and self-worth while reducing envy, anxiety, and depression. Emmons, in his book, Thanks, asks you to think of a time when you felt grateful. What other feelings do you associate with this state? If you are like most people, you are probably thinking of words like peaceful, content, warm, giving, friendly, and joyful. This simple question illustrates that gratitude is a positive, desirable state that most people find enjoyable.
Gratitude is a spiritual awareness and a social structure that reaches beyond individual experiences. It promotes compassion, generosity, and forgiveness, strengthening relationships and creating a sense of connectedness with others. As Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, aptly pointed out, even in the direst circumstances, gratitude can be found. It empowers us with the freedom to choose our attitude and responses, even in challenging situations. In Frankl’s book, A Man’s Search For Meaning, he describes “those of us who survived the concentration camps remember the men who walked through the barracks, comforting others and giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer ample proof that even in the most dire of circumstances, there is always one thing that cannot be taken away: the freedom to choose one's attitude and one's own way.”
But gratitude is not just an emotion; it is also a disposition, an outlook toward life that can be cultivated and strengthened. To grow in gratitude, we can practice mindfulness and simple meditation, tuning into our breathing, and savoring the small authentic moments that bring contentment. In our relationships, we can model gratitude, encourage grateful thinking, and point out the good things happening around us and the people responsible for them. Robert Emmons explains that expressing gratitude implies humility, a recognition that we could not be who we are or where we are in life without the contribution of others.
Moreover, gratitude is a powerful force for positive change in society. It fosters a vision of community based on grace and gifts, deepening our awareness of humility and blessing. A sense of collective gratefulness can lead us to stand against injustice and work towards creating a fairer and more compassionate world. As Butler Bass beautifully puts it, gratitude is a defiance of sorts, resisting evil with kindness, connection, and hope. It untangles our hearts, enabling us to live more peacefully and justly.
Gratitude is not merely a fleeting emotion but an ethic, a framework of principles that guide us to live more fully in the world. It is both a feeling and a choice, urging us to acknowledge the abundance around us and respond with generosity. By cultivating gratitude, we can enhance our well-being, strengthen our relationships, and create communities of comfort and generosity. So, let us embrace gratitude and let it open us toward grace and love, fostering a brighter and more connected world for all. As Gina Hamadey beautifully summarizes, "Generosity leads to gratitude, which leads to generosity." Let us continue this cycle of kindness and gratitude to make a positive impact in the lives of others and ourselves.
Activity: Oprah Winfrey once said, ”life is full of delightful treasures, if we take a moment to appreciate them.” Part of releasing our grip on our overscheduled lives is about making room for those moments. Today, appreciate some simple pleasures like a lazy afternoon, a beautiful sunset, a second chance, good news, a nap, or forcing spring bulbs indoors to get a whiff of spring as winter rages on outside.
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