Gratitude
Introduction
Philosopher and theorist Adam Smith (1790/1976) identified gratitude as one of the most basic social emotions that provide individuals with guidance for moral judgments and behaviour. He further considered gratitude to be a primary motivator of caring behaviour toward a giver or helper. In this respect, gratitude prompts the beneficiary to seek out ways to acknowledge the benefit conferred on him or her, which creates a sense of goodwill and encourages social stability. According to Smith, people will show appreciation towards a person who has tried to help even if the person fails (McCullough, et al., 2001). Arguably, gratitude increases the levels of a person’s life satisfaction and decreases levels of negative effect.
According to Hay (2008, p. 53), ‘Gratitude is an access to awareness, and awareness is a doorway to love, unceasing’. Once a person is aware of all that has been given to him or her, then the person will automatically want to give thanks, leading to a feeling of endless love within the self. Practicing appreciation and never complaining can automatically change one’s life for the better.
In practicing gratitude, you acknowledge that everything is going to be okay, think nothing is going to go wrong, and, no matter what, even if a thing may go wrong, know that it is still fixable. To give an example, say you have gone to the mechanic to fix your car. The mechanic tells you that your car is not yet fixed because another problem has been found and therefore you need to pay extra money. At the end of the day, you will feel good because your car will have been fixed; you just need to find a way to pay the extra money since you are in need of that car (Beiler, 2008). As another example, the other day, when I was waiting for the bus, I came to find out that two of the buses had broken down. Thinking that I was going to be late for school, instead of panicking, I focused on
the positive of that moment. When I did, I saw the
Philosopher and theorist Adam Smith (1790/1976) identified gratitude as one of the most basic social emotions that provide individuals with guidance for moral judgments and behaviour. He further considered gratitude to be a primary motivator of caring behaviour toward a giver or helper. In this respect, gratitude prompts the beneficiary to seek out ways to acknowledge the benefit conferred on him or her, which creates a sense of goodwill and encourages social stability. According to Smith, people will show appreciation towards a person who has tried to help even if the person fails (McCullough, et al., 2001). Arguably, gratitude increases the levels of a person’s life satisfaction and decreases levels of negative effect.
According to Hay (2008, p. 53), ‘Gratitude is an access to awareness, and awareness is a doorway to love, unceasing’. Once a person is aware of all that has been given to him or her, then the person will automatically want to give thanks, leading to a feeling of endless love within the self. Practicing appreciation and never complaining can automatically change one’s life for the better.
In practicing gratitude, you acknowledge that everything is going to be okay, think nothing is going to go wrong, and, no matter what, even if a thing may go wrong, know that it is still fixable. To give an example, say you have gone to the mechanic to fix your car. The mechanic tells you that your car is not yet fixed because another problem has been found and therefore you need to pay extra money. At the end of the day, you will feel good because your car will have been fixed; you just need to find a way to pay the extra money since you are in need of that car (Beiler, 2008). As another example, the other day, when I was waiting for the bus, I came to find out that two of the buses had broken down. Thinking that I was going to be late for school, instead of panicking, I focused on
the positive of that moment. When I did, I saw the
References: Books Christopher Peterson, Martin E. P. Seligman ,Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification Louise l Hay (2008). gratitude a way of life. hay house: Publishing systems PTY. Ltd.ACN 085 119 953 Robert A Emmons (2007). Thanks: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. New York: United States of America. Journals Michael E. McCullough, Shelley D. Kilpatrick, Robert A. Emmons and David B. Larson, 2001, vol, 127, No.2. Is gratitude a moral affect? Susie Beiler, May/ June 2008, Lululemon athletic, Yoga journal, practice happiness as a path to lasting peace, Breathe easy 9 poses for stuffy sinuses, how to truly care for the earth.P.143. Website Brian Maxwell, May 16th 2012, live your life with prosperity and success, the power of positive thinking- improve your quality of life. Available: http://www.newthoughtgeneration.com/2012/05/power-of-positive-thinking-improve-your-quality-of-life/ [ last accessed 21/09/12].