The holiday season is an opportunity to give thanks to life for all it has brought them good. Through recognition, we express an appreciation of what we have, in a world where our primary concern remains what we want. Derived from the Latin "gratia", the word gratitude expresses blessing, gratitude and prosperity, and in some respects this term encompasses all these meanings. That's what ultimately allows us to connect to something bigger than ourselves, regardless of our beliefs. Today, science reveals that gratitude is the key to well-being. We tell you more.
For politeness and propriety, we teach children to say "thank you" from a very young age. Nevertheless, we fail to inculcate the true meaning of this word. Indeed, more than a social and civic virtue, recognition is a motivation of benevolence and constitutes a kind of rational and emotional reminder of the social need for reciprocity.
What is gratitude?
In his book Langelot Monkey, Vladimir Volkoff explains that: "Admiration and gratitude are the noblest feelings man is given to experience." In reality, there are two qualities that are part of our definition of gratitude. The first is appreciation and the second is selfless recognition.
Thus, gratitude represents an affirmation of goodness. We recognize that life is made up of beautiful things and we thank it for all the benefits we have. We are aware of how lucky we are and we express this recognition in order to achieve positive results in our lives.
Gratitude is therefore a positive emotion similar to appreciation. Harvard Medical School defines this state of mind as: "An appreciation of what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people recognize the goodness of their lives ... " This feeling can also help us to adhere to something that surpasses us, whether with others, with nature, or with greater strength.
Today, science proves that gratitude can contribute to our happiness, helping us to develop a feeling of well-being and happiness.
Reasons to be more grateful
Research in positive psychology revealed that gratitude was strongly and consistently linked to increased happiness. This allows individuals to relativize everything that happens in their lives and therefore feel more positive emotions by appreciating each experience that they are led to pass.
Psychologists Robert A. Emmons of the University of California and Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami have conducted studies on three groups of people. For 10 weeks, participants were invited to write in a newspaper their feelings about events that occurred during the week. The first group was instructed to note events for which he was grateful, the second was to talk about what he disliked, and the third was to describe the situations he had lived without dwelling on the feelings. The researchers found that participants in the first group were more optimistic and in better health than those who focused solely on negative experiences.
In short, whether gratitude is formalized, prescribed or premeditated, it has become one of the leading concepts of positive psychology because of the benefits it brings to health and well-being. So, to be happier, just be more grateful.