First of all, what exactly is gratitude?
We are all taught to say ‘thank you’ to others when they give us a gift, or are kind to us in a gesture beginning when we are young. Our modern society, to some extent, expects a polite acknowledgement of another’s kindness. But in speaking of gratitude here, we are talking about a deeper feeling than just the automatic and somewhat generic ‘Thank you’.
By definition, gratitude is the quality of being thankful with a readiness to show appreciation for and to return a kindness. It is an expression of appreciation for what one has. It is a recognition of value that is independent of monetary worth. It is also an affirmation of goodness and warmth that is spontaneously generated with-in us. The American Psychological Association fine tunes their definition to being ‘a phenomenon where a sense of happiness and thankfulness is felt in response to a fortunate happenstance or tangible gift’.
Gratitude is also a state as well as a trait.
· In a state of gratitude one can experience gratitude in a certain moment in time for another individual or a tangible item. This can also be thought of as a temporary feeling or an emotion, and can be referred to as a mood with its daily fluctuations.
· The trait of gratitude involves a more long-term experience or existence, as in a positive character trait of the individual. Here the individual practices gratitude as part of their daily lives and it is considered a strength that can be enhanced with awareness and additional practice.
There are two stages in the feeling of gratitude.
First we have an acknowledgement of a goodness in one’s life. In this state of gratitude we affirm that life is good and it has elements that make it worth living. We are gratified through this acknowledgement from both the presence of the goodness and from the effort put forth by the giver.
The second stage is where we recognize that the source of the goodness rests outside of ourselves. Here we can be grateful to anyone or anything else, but not ourselves. We are able to recognize the goodness in our own lives and who to thank for it.
As you will see in part 2 of the Gratitude blog, there is a lot of importance in being grateful as well as in having gratitude in your life. From social and emotional well-being, to psychological effects and better life satisfaction. Stay tuned in 2 weeks for more information!
References:
https://www.mindful.org/an-introduction-to-mindful-gratitude/ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain
Next time:
Stay tuned for my next blog in 2 weeks for Gratitude Part 2: Why Is It So Important? Here are 20 Benefits of Practicing Gratitude.
Related Post Links:
Gratitude Part 2:
Gratitude Part 3:
Author: Jen Hassaj | 4-5-23
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