What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is the practise of expressing thanks for the things in a person’s life that they are appreciative for.  The act of showing appreciation for the many wonderful things in a person’s life help to counteract the negative events.

Gratitude can take different forms, some like to write a letter, some keep a diary, others a journal, some write them on paper and put them in a jar and others say them out loud.  Most people who show appreciation do so regularly, often daily.  They set aside small amounts of time to express thanks for the positives in their lives, the little things that they appreciate, the small rays of light in a sometimes very negative world. Some do this in the evening, others first thing in the morning.

Gratitude is particularly helpful at times when someone is experiencing difficulties or feeling low.  At these times it helps to remind the person of the positives in their lives and to focus on them.  It helps to ensure our mood remains positive even in the face of adversity.

The practise of gratitude dates back thousands of years and has been linked to the ancient Greeks and early Christianity.  In recent years there have been a number of clinical studies researching the impact of gratitude and appreciative acts.  Some very successful people use gratitude as a habit, more than may be realised. They may or may not talk about it, but they will be the people who you see appreciate the acts of other people.  Gratitude really does change lives.