The Value of Gratitude

We live in a world that is fast-paced, often focuses on the negative and can be individualistic in outlook. Sociologists and psychologists have found that humans tend to have some ingrained psychological tendencies. For instance, self-serving bias. This is accrediting ourselves when good things happen to us and blaming others or circumstances when bad things happen to us.

Other tendencies include feeling we need to control our environment and the attitude that we are entitled to good fortune. This may result in us feeling drained of energy and gloomy about life.

Thinking about what we are grateful for in our lives from our physical senses, to our achievements and friendships enables us to slow down, live in the moment and see things from a different perspective. Research carried out by the Greater Good Science Centre, Berkeley University (see link below) indicate that having an 'attitude of gratitude' has numerous benefits, physically, emotionally and socially.

Physical benefits include:

• A stronger immune system;

• A higher pain threshold;

• Lower blood pressure;

• Better general health, energy and motivation to exercise regularly;

• Better quality of sleep.

Emotional benefits include:

• Higher levels of positive emotions;

• It blocks toxic and negative emotions;

• Higher stress threshold;

• Feeling more alive and alert;

• Experiencing more joy, happiness and contentment;

• Nurtures resilience.

Social benefits include:

• Feeling less socially isolated;

• Cultivates a higher sense of self-worth;

• Feeling more compassionate, empathetic and helpful;

• Forgiving more and understanding others' perspectives more.
  

Examples of ways in which we can cultivate an 'attitude of gratitude' include:

• Upon waking, write down 5 things you are grateful for.

• Spending time alone to meditate, being comfortable and making peace with yourself;

• Giving to others;

• Flipping the narrative, for example, instead of 'I have to go to work', 'I get to go to work';

• Keeping a journal;

• Keeping visual prompts.

Cultivating gratitude takes skill and practice. A detailed module on how to develop an attitude of gratitude within our own contexts is included in the online courses and in 121 coaching sessions.

Further reading can be found at:

Why Gratitude Is Good | Greater Good (berkeley.edu)