According to Dr Robert Emmons, a leading researcher on the topic, there are three stages of gratitude: 1) Recognizing what we are grateful for, 2) Acknowledging it, and lastly, 3) Appreciating it. In other words, appreciation is the final component and the last stage in the gratitude process.
How Do I Practice Gratitude? Robert Emmons, psychology professor and gratitude researcher at the University of California, Davis, explains that there are two key components of practicing gratitude: We affirm the good things we've received. We acknowledge the role other people play in providing our lives with goodness.
"Three good things" is a classic gratitude exercise where participants are asked to write down three good things from their day, whether big or small. Practicing gratitude regularly has been shown to increase positive emotions and improve well-being.
These six pillars are: relatedness, sincerity, empathy, self-regard, integrity, and humility. To be able to move from the sense of gratitude as an emotion to gratitude as an action – or deep gratitude – requires a commitment to putting priority on the relationships in our lives.
Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease.
The word gratitude comes from the Latin root gratus, meaning “pleasing; welcome; agreeable.” Gratus is also the root of related terms such as grace, gratuity and gratis, all signifying positive moods, actions and ideas.
Our genes and our brains aren't the end of the story; certain personality factors can also act as barriers to gratitude. In particular, envy, materialism, narcissism, and cynicism can be thought of as “thieves of thankfulness.”
Specifically, it acts as a moral barometer, drawing attention to help received; a moral motivator, encouraging a prosocial response to help; and as a moral reinforcer, where the expression of gratitude makes the benefactor more likely to provide help in the future (McCullough et al., 2001).
What are the five paths of gratitude secrets to an abundant life?
GIFTS is an acronym for the 5 wisdom practices described in this guidebook to living a completely abundant life: GRATITUDE, INTENTIONS, FORGIVENESS, TITHING AND SURRENDER.
