thankyou

Gratitude has become an important concept in my life and my practice as of late. So, I decided to do some low tech research using The Google to see what other people are saying about gratitude. Here’s what I’ve found from some other, smarter people…

“Gratitude isn’t about how much or little you have, but the story you tell yourself about it. Gratitude expands our capacity to feel joy and infuses a deeper dimension into our living.” — Margie Warrell

“Gratitude is used as a moral barometer, in that it is used to emotionally feel the size and nature of a gift from another. The supporting studies cited showed that people are more likely to feel gratitude towards: acts done by strangers than family members, larger acts than smaller acts, more inconvenient acts, acts that confer benefits which themselves are not necessary because of a situation caused by the benefactor, people with higher status, and people who were generally nicer. People were also significantly more likely to feel gratitude when their declaration of gratitude would be public.” — Shula Sommers and Corinne Kosmitzki

“Three studies cited showed that those who felt gratitude were more likely to help others…it encourages pro-social behavior, and discourages societaly disruptive behavior.” — Shula Sommers and Corinne Kosmitzki

“Gratitude can be correlated with certain personality traits. This is proven only half true – only agreeableness is shown to be positively correlated with gratitude (and narcissism negatively correlated). Unexpectedly, extroversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism had nearly no correlation with gratitude.” — Shula Sommers and Corinne Kosmitzki

“With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals.” — Harvard Mental Health Letter

“It seems that the more grateful a person is, the less depressed they are. Philip Watkins, a clinical psychologist at Eastern Washington University, found that clinically depressed individuals showed significantly lower gratitude (nearly 50 percent less) than non-depressed controls.” — Ocean Robbins

“Gratitude helps us realize what we have. This can lessen our need for wanting more all the time.” — Dr. Robert Emmons

“When Mark Twain said, “I can live two months on a good compliment,” he only told half the story. While the person who receives the praise enjoys feeling noticed and valued (and is motivated to do more of the same), the giver can also bask in the connection. With every compliment given, a bond is strengthened, trust is built, and conversation encouraged.” — Unstuck

There’s much much more to find. I just ran out of time today. Feel free to use the comments below to add to the list.

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