Traditionally, the end of the year is a time of reflection and gratitude. It is a time to say thank you on Thanksgiving Day, a time to give and receive gifts, and a time to look at the year gone past and the year ahead. However, why wait for the […]
The act of gratitude plays an important role in psychological wellbeing and self-actualization (Maslow, 1970). Regular expression of gratitude leads to increased feelings of happiness (Dickens, 2017), as well as reports of higher life satisfaction, meaningfulness, and productivity (Emmons & Crumpler, 2000). In this post, we will explore the emotion […]
Are happy people grateful? Or are grateful people happy? This debate has been present since the time of Socrates. Studies have shown that gratitude is good for both your mental and physical health. What we don’t know is why people wait to improve well-being with an intentional improvement of the […]
The health benefits of expressing gratitude are many, and some might surprise you. Scholars, spiritual leaders, and scientists throughout history have deliberated on gratitude. More recently, the scientifically-validated benefits of gratitude are better understood. Through the work of leading researchers like Robert Emmons and Martin Seligman, we know that this […]
We all want a happy life. A cushy job, a perfect family, financial stability, and a great social life! And in this indefinite pursuit of happiness that is mostly like a mirage, how often do we spare a minute to thank what we already have at this very moment? Gratitude […]
Think of a time you told someone how grateful you were for their help, support or even just for being in your life. How did that moment make you and that person feel? Or maybe you can remember a time someone gave you something, something you didn’t buy or ask […]
While teaching children to participate in the practice of gratitude can prove to be a bit of a task; the return on investment in their emotional well-being is unlimited and long term. Making gratitude fun and meaningful can introduce kids to a lifelong appreciation for the world around them and […]
Count your blessings. Be thankful. The message about gratitude can be heard these days, loud and clear. Being thankful is such an important practice to hold onto in this fast-paced world in which we live…simply noticing the things we are thankful of. However, it’s all well and good to know […]
The word gratitude comes from the Latin word gratus, which means "thankful, pleasing." Therefore, in its most simple form, to be grateful is to have appreciation and express thankfulness. However, there is more to gratitude than perhaps first meets the eye. What is clear, however, is that ‘counting your blessings’ […]
What is happiness? What is gratitude? We each have our own definitions of these, and for the most part, they will probably sound pretty similar. But if we were to take a deeper dive into the two, we would we find out more about ourselves, for instance, our behavioral tendencies […]
We usually show our gratitude to others when we feel indebted to them, when we have benefitted from their actions, and when we want to make our feelings towards them known. Showing gratitude is sometimes a required or expected thing, but at other times, a spontaneous “thank you” to someone […]
Here at the PositivePsychology.com, we have recently been discussing the power of gratitude from a variety of angles. Whether you have been following along all month or this is the first article you are reading, we hope these videos will help drive home the idea that feeling gratitude can be […]
Gratitude has been a hot topic in the world of positive psychology research for many years. In fact, if you type “gratitude” into Google Scholar, you’ll get about 1.32 million results! Gratitude is a popular area of research not only because it is an inherently “positive” topic, but also because […]
Gratitude meditation is a type of meditation which, as the name suggests, focuses on gratitude. This article will define gratitude meditation, discuss some of its benefits, and relate it to mindfulness. It also includes a few guided gratitude meditations, so you can start your practice today. Before you read on, […]
Gratitude is like most desirable traits and qualities in that it is usually not enough to simply decide to be grateful—we must actively practice it to cement its place in our lives. There are many reasons why gratitude is such a desirable quality, aside from its inherent goodness. As we […]
We recently posted an article about how to incorporate a regular practice of gratitude into your life. It includes some excellent tips, ideas, and exercises to start being more grateful. However, most people like to know how they can benefit before they start a regular practice. That’s an understandable desire, […]
The #1 thing that holds people back from having a smoothe-as-honey lifestyle, where you can just get up, feel great, and connect with other people in meaningful ways, is… (Drum roll) Not being grateful. You can have all the money and achievements in the world. But, if you are grateful […]
There is a variety of things that can conjure positive feelings of appreciation or gratitude that may guide people towards meaning and better health. “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your […]
