Gratitude

Gratitude is a felt sense of wonder, thankfulness, and an appreciation for life. Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present.

With the appreciation inherent in gratitude, we can actually magnify positive experiences.

Gratitude blocks toxic emotions, particularly in areas of envy, resentment, regret, depressive symptoms.

Gratitude maximizes our resilience in stressful circumstances, even traumatic ones.

Gratitude strengthens social ties and self-worth. It expands our awareness of the network of people, past and present, who have contributed to our lives in positive ways.

Neurologically, gratitude provides the quickest path from negative to positive emotion.

“You think this is just another day in your life? It’s not just another day. It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s given to you. It’s a gift. It’s the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness. If you do nothing else but cultivate that response to the great gift that this unique day is, if you learn to respond as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well.”
– David Steindl-Rast