Gratitude is an emotion of appreciation for things that are undeserved. Research shows practicing gratitude provides mental and physical health benefits like lower stress, stronger relationships, optimism, and happiness. Studies found people who focused on gratitude showed more life satisfaction weeks later. Practicing gratitude involves writing thank you letters or keeping a gratitude journal to reflect on positive things each day.

1. Gratitude - "Best Gift To
Share"
“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
advancement, you should include all things
in your gratitude.”

2. What is Gratitude
Gratitude is an emotion similar to appreciation that most people are familiar
with. What many people do not know is that gratitude plays an important
role in several historical movements, and that gratitude is now becoming an
important part of psychology research, and especially positive psychology
research.
if we acquire a good through exchange, effort or achievement, or by right,
then we don’t typically feel gratitude. Gratitude is an emotion we feel in
response to receiving something good which is undeserved
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others."

3. Purpose of Gratitude
•
People can use gratitude to form new social relations, or to build
upon and make current ones better.
•
Acts of gratitude can be used to apologize, make amends or help
solve other problems people may face.
•
Simply being grateful for being alive is a great way to motivate
oneself to seize the day.
Why Gratitude Works
•
Gratitude is a selfless act. Gratitude acts are done unconditionally to
show to people that they are appreciated, not because people are
looking for something in return; however, that is not to say that
people do not return the favor. Gratitude can be contagious, in a
good way.

4. Modern Psychological Perspectives on Gratitude
Here is an overview of the recent research findings related to the study of
gratitude:
•
Well-being : grateful people are more agreeable, more open, and less
neurotic
•
Relationships : Gratitude is also a powerful tool for strengthening
interpersonal relationships.
•
Optimism : In one study in 2003 they found that after 10 weeks, the
people who had focused on gratitude in their lives, showed
significantly more optimism in many areas of their lives, including
health and exercise.
•
Happiness : Toepfer, Cichy and Peters (2011) conducted a study
where people were asked to write and deliver a letter to someone for
whom they were grateful. Right after the task their the happiness
levels and life satisfaction were dramatically impacted even weeks
later. In the pursuit of happiness and life satisfaction, gratitude is
showing a direct and long lasting effect thus the more gratitude we
experience the happier our lives will be.

5. •
Stronger Self Control : Self Control helps us to be disciplined and
focused and to persist with what is subjectively the most important
for our long term well being. Self control comes into play in these
moments and hopefully we make the better choice for our long term
health, financial future and wellbeing.
•
Better Physical and Mental Health : Without our physical health
we cannot truly experience and enjoy allBetter Physical and Mental
Health gratitude that life has to offer. Here, yet again gratitude it
playing a valuable role in influencing one of our most fundamental
human needs, that of health. (Eg. Heart Failure Study 2015)
•
An Overall a Better Life : In researching Gratitude, Thankfulness,
and Appreciation over the last 2 decades, I feel very confident in
saying that this practice significantly increases our overall well
being, happiness, and health and the evidence is there to prove it

6. The Effects of Gratitude
- In a study by McCraty and colleagues (1998), 45 adults were taught to “cultivate
appreciation and other positive emotions”. The results of this study showed that there was
a mean 23% reduction in the stress hormone cortisol after the intervention period.
- Moreover, during the use of the techniques, 80% of the participants exhibited an increased
coherence in heart rate variability patterns, indicating reduced stress. In other words, these
findings suggest that people with an “attitude of gratitude” experience lower levels
of stress.
- In another study by Seligman, Steen, and Peterson (2005), participants were given one week
to write and then deliver a letter of thanks in person to someone who had been especially
kind to them, but who had never been properly thanked. The gratitude visit involves three
basic steps:
•
First, think of someone who has done something important and wonderful for you,
yet who you feel you have not properly thanked.
•
Next, reflect on the benefits you received from this person, and write a letter
expressing your gratitude for all they have done for you.
•
Finally, arrange to deliver the letter personally, and spend some time with this
person talking about what you wrote.

7. Apply it to Your Life
•
This very evening, before you go to sleep, simply think of the
positive things that happened during the day; things that you are
grateful for. Take a moment to do this every night. It’s not a bad idea
to keep a gratitude journal to reflect on later.
•
If you have children, take a moment with them before bed-time to ask
them to think about something they’re grateful for themselves. Don’t
forget to set a good example by sharing what you’re grateful for!
A Take Home Message
•
The most exciting aspect of all these benefits of gratitude is that
gratitude costs absolutely nothing to practice, and that anyone can
easily be grateful in their lives.
"Gratitude is a human emotion that can be most simply defined as
appreciation or acknowledgment of an altruistic act"