Gratitude is about appreciating what is good in life. In the research, gratitude is defined as thankfulness or feelings of appreciation that result from perceived fortune or the kindness of others. Gratitude is one of the 24 character strengths in the VIA Signature Strengths survey. Of the 24 strengths, it is one of the strengths most strongly associated with high life satisfaction. Individuals high in dispositional gratitude have a tendency to notice and appreciate good outcomes in the world.
Gratitude is about feeling good and doing good.
Gratitude is about being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen. Awareness can be enhanced by being more mindful of your experiences and interactions with others. This allows individuals to appreciate what is valuable and meaningful to them. It is important to remember that gratitude is felt in different amounts and is expressed in different ways by different people. Gratitude is shown to increase a person’s positive emotions as it allows them to savour life experiences and direct attention to positive life experiences.
Gratitude connects people to things outside of themselves – to other people, to the community and to nature.
Here are some ways to nurture gratitude in young people:
Here are some common obstacles that stop or restrict individuals from practicing gratitude:
I encourage you all to try a way of recording and expressing what you are grateful for everyday for a week. This is similar to a previous personal activity I suggested called ‘Looking For Specks of Gold’. Below are some examples of how you might record what you are grateful for.
Gratitude Apps (Project 365, Collect, Gratitude Journal 365)
Words of Wisdom:
‘Gratitude teaches us to appreciate the rainbow and the storm.’
Christina G. Hibbert
Tom Atyeo
Wellbeing Coordinator
