PRACTICING
GRATITUDE Gratitude is described as a cognitive process in which a favorable outcome is attributed to the benevolence of an external source, such as another person or a higher power (Emmons and McCullough, 2003). Practicing gratitude has been shown to enhance subjective well-being— or happiness—by fixing one's attention to what one has rather than what one lacks, which reduces the capacity for unhelpful social comparison or envy (Watkins et al., 2011). Gratitude enables a deeper sense of appreciation and joy to be derived from positive circumstances and fosters stronger relationships with others by increasing feelings of being valued, all of which in turn promote a "cycle of virtue," where prosocial behavior and the resulting sense of warm connection to other people positively reinforce one another (Grant & Gino, 2010).
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"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." — Oprah Winfrey
Count your blessings
to keep a gratitude journal and regularly reflect on the blessings in your life.
Research has shown that consistent practice of grateful thinking leads to long-term improvements in happiness (Emmons and McCullough, 2003). One recommended method is
Exercise: Consider the people, opportunities, and circumstances in your life that you are deeply grateful for. Then, at the end of each day, reflect on what was good and what went well.