There is a lot more to gratitude than meets the eye. Studies show that people who have an attitude of gratitude have higher levels of well-being (physical and emotional), are happier, less stressed, more satisfied with their lives, have more effective coping skills, grow from difficult experiences, experience more successful outcomes, and even sleep better. Gratitude seems to be a uniquely powerful trait.
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Cicero (106 BC- 43 BC)
Definition of Gratitude
Gratitude is the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful for something that you perceive to be beneficial to you; gratitude does not include feelings of entitlement, indebtedness or something you experience because you earned it.
The feeling of gratitude is pure, still, peaceful and always available to you. For example, you can drive down the road and choose to feel grateful for the mountains, the trees, and the people who built the road you are driving on. Gratitude can be a path to happiness, although gratitude is not happiness.
Authentic Gratitude
Have you ever experience something that you judged to be bad for you only to later find out that it was a blessing? What if you choose to live in complete acceptance and gratitude for everything in your life? You may be in difficult situation, however, are you willing to choose to be grateful for the opportunity to handle the situation with grace, ease, and compassion for yourself and others? Are you willing to be grateful for the opportunity to do better than you did the last time you were in a difficult situation?
Authentic gratitude is independent of circumstances or situations. Are you willing to be in acceptance and gratitude when the road does not appear to be smooth, or perfect? For more information about acceptance, see “Acceptance and Patience”.
Elements of Gratitude & the Secret Sauce
Gratitude is intentional and has elements of acceptance, being present in the moment, and realizing that you have choices. The secret sauce to feeling gratitude is to consciously, and specifically, acknowledge the source of your gratitude. It is thinking “I am grateful for the people that labored to build this road” versus “I am glad this road is here.” You can be thankful for specific people, for people that you don’t know, for mother nature, or for what you believe is the source of your gratitude.
Giving versus Receiving Gratitude
A common way to look at gratitude is on the receiving side; the other side is the giving side. One of the easiest ways to give gratitude is to say a heartfelt “thank you” to others in both personal and professional situations. When you are grateful, you are compassionate, positive, and helpful… and more likely to experience more positive outcomes.
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you,” that would suffice.” Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
A great way to give gratitude is to volunteer which is an act of being grateful for other human beings and, coincidentally, also has wellness effects. For more information see “The Volunteer Wellness Effect”.
“There are two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we receive, and the larger kind we feel for what we give.” Edward Arlington Robinson (1869-1935)
Very Smart Girls intentionally choose to be grateful in all situations.
Comments welcome!
photo credit: pfly
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I have found that when I am in an “Attitude of Gratitude” negative thinking and judgments are laid aside. I am not talking about being a Pollyanna. There is so much to be grateful for, starting with the air I breath, the beating of my heart, what I see and hear. Each morning awakening and taking a hot shower. The water right there are the end of a twist. I have food waiting for me in the kitchen. My wonderful, wiggly dog who always looks at me with gratitude and love.
When driving I am in gratitude for my car and that I can afford the gas. Even with a few potholes this time of year I am in gratitude that the roads are paved and not dirt roads full of ruts. When a driver is rude I have gratitude that I have a choice not to be rude back to them. On and on and on.
Thank you for reminding me of all I have gratitude for.
Nancy,
Thank you for your wonderful comments and examples. I especially like your example of choosing not to be rude to others- I agree, it is your choice!
Thank you for reminding me. I have so much to be grateful for. I have been given the gifts of intelligence and health and family and friends. I often ask for Spirit’s assistance to help me use these gifts in service to humanity and myself – to make a contribution to the world.
When I am going through difficult times, I always try to look for the lesson. We grow and learn as we go through difficult times.
I am grateful for my friend, Jo-Ann and this wonderful website she created.
Elaine,
I am grateful to you, your wisdom, and the insightful comments you share with all of us on this site.
Loved it, Jo-Ann, especially the “secret sauce” or should I say “source.” Be thankful to the source. That’s great.
And I thank YOU for your words of wisdom, my Dear.
Doreen,
I am thankful for your wit “secret sauce” or should I say “source.” I had not thought of that! Thank you!
Dear Jo Ann,
i am grateful for so many things in my life and when I find myself complaining about whatever, I switch to gratitude and I see that things are not as bad as I was making them appear, my perspective changes and life is much easy.
thank you for creating Very Smart Girls.
LOVE YA,
Socorro
Socorro,
Thank you for your awareness…and tip! I agree, complaining is a great indicator that you are not in gratitude.