Suddenly, we felt the urge, or rather, the need to talk about gratitude. About “this feeling of wonder, appreciation, and valuing life,” as defined by Robert Emmons, one of the prominent authors on the subject (1).
Perhaps we have heard the expression “you would feel better if you were more grateful” countless times. The importance of gratitude goes beyond popular recommendation. Since Antiquity, various philosophers have pointed it out as one of the most important virtues of human beings. A focus of recent studies in Psychology, gratitude has also been addressed by Sociology and Anthropology, which advocate that this feeling begins in childhood, due to the child's capacity to love.
Based on the review by Pieta & Freitas published in 2009 on gratitude (2), we can summarize the following personality traits of grateful people: they are generally benevolent, more inclined to forgiveness, more pleasant, and less narcissistic (self-sufficient). People who regularly feel grateful to others tend to feel loved and cared for.
This same publication provides a summary of the conclusions from studies that correlate gratitude with subjective well-being: Gratitude is relevant to well-being. It leads people to respond more positively to life events. It serves as protection in adverse situations, increasing resilience. It is associated with positive psychological states such as contentment, happiness, pride, and hope.
Sonja Lyubomirsky, one of the most recognized researchers in Positive Psychology, in her book “The Science of Happiness – How to Achieve Real and Lasting Happiness” recommends gratitude as the first attitude to be practiced by those seeking happiness (2).
Gratitude can be considered a virtue, an attitude, an emotion, a habit, a personality trait, and even a social response (3). We can even consider it a gesture. A gesture of exchange. Of reciprocation to the one who was generous. A gesture of expressing recognition. You give, I receive, and that does me good. I thank you, you rejoice that I have acknowledged it. We feel good. I feel the urge to imitate you. You feel the urge to do more. I do good and see that it is good. The energy of good spreads in a network.
The common concept, from a scientific perspective, published in 2010 in a literature review on the benefits of gratitude for well-being states that “Gratitude is the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to a person and represents a general state of thankfulness” (3).
What is valuable and meaningful to you? Your planet? Your health? Your friends? Your children? Your work? The opportunities that arise in your life? Whatever it is, be grateful. For your well-being. For your happiness. Have your daily gesture of gratitude.
References:
Pieta, M., Freitas, L. On gratitude. Brazilian Archives of Psychology, v. 61, n. 1, 2009;
Lyubomirsky, S. The science of happiness. How to achieve real and lasting happiness. 2008. Elsevier Ed. Ltda. Online version available at: http://books.google.com.br/books?id=UKmkoq9JzMoC&pg=PP28&lpg=PP28&dq=Sonja+Lyubomirsky+a+ci%C3%AAncia+da+felicidade+73++gratid%C3%A3o&source=bl&ots=dA6NfcwaOm&sig=16DOJXT4wtHRlzbsaTK-i8Ya2fM&hl=pt-BR&sa=X&ei=bxf2UIzOGMPx0wH3toCYCA&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#. Accessed on 01/15/2013;
Sansone, R. Sansone, M. Gratitude and well-being: The benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgemont) 2010;7(11):18–22.
