Robert Emmons, psychology professor and gratitude researcher at the University of California, Davis, explains that there are two key components of practicing gratitude: As a trait, an individual practices gratitude as part of their daily life (McCullough et al., 2002), and it is considered a character strength. It is important to remember that gratitude is a strength that can be enhanced with awareness and practice. Words of Gratitude is written in the sweet spot of tones, comfortably in between academic and intimate. While the authors outline some of the major gratitude research, it is described with minimal jargon in clean and simple prose. Carol, I appreciate the detail and care of this blog. I am a clinical social worker/writer and write a bi-monthly blog “Gratitude is as Gratitude Does,” at fayewriter.com. I’m always on the lookout for new approaches, ways of thinking about the essentials of a gratitude process. Reply

A regular practice of gratitude, or “attitude of gratitude” as some call it, can enhance your life in a multitude of ways, including:Often when we consider what we are grateful for, overt and profound life experiences, circumstances, and events come to mind. We may feel grateful for our upbringing, family, job, good health, and the opportunity to gain an education. While recognizing and being grateful for these experiences is important, our gratitude practice must also venture below the surface. When a person experiences the emotion from someone expressing gratitude for them, it is referred to as a state (Watkins et al., 2009). Showing gratitude at work can contribute to a healthier workplace, but new research says that work gratitude is conceptually different from gratitude in other areas of our lives.

I’m grateful that gratitude can be cultivated. This is freedom for me. I always said that I’m not a naturally grateful person. I don’t have to be. Gratitude can be consciously generated. The ATTITUDES OF GRATITUDE has really helped me Reply

If you liked our printable activities, but still want more ideas to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, add the following prompts to your journal. Sometimes it’s difficult to think of reasons why you’re grateful, or the exercises might be targeted at the wrong age. The worksheet Why I’m Grateful is appropriate for clients of all ages, as well as various types of sessions (e.g., group versus single sessions, and first-time versus experienced clients). Most of us are a little bit guilty of taking our loved ones for granted. The next time you notice a kind act by a loved one, why not show gratitude by simply saying ‘thank you’ , or giving a hug? We ought to show appreciation and not let kind acts go unnoticed. Training yourself to show your gratefulness for loved ones can strengthen your relationships with others. I place this book in the list of best books on gratitude as it will get you to a level of comfort and mindful living, which drastically increases feelings of appreciation.

Go for depth over breadth. Elaborating in detail about a particular person or thing for which you’re grateful carries more benefits than a superficial list of many things. At first, Nancy found it difficult to come up with a list of 50 people. After she got started on the letters, the practice naturally boosted positive emotion and she was able to extend her gratitude well beyond her family and friends. Nancy encourages those writing gratitude letters to find “the creative people whose work carries you beyond yourself, whose vision helps you clarify your own, whose talent and hard work have combined to create a body of work that brings you simple joy.” Why Practice: Deepen Resilience HELLO THERE can you give me a little bit of your time and answer these questions for me in 5-6 sentences each:Yet, things are turning around when John decides to send one handwritten thank-you note a day. He reaches out to old clients, friends from the college, past loves, and a year later, his life looks like nothing before.