“Two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we take; the larger kind we feel for what we give.”
~ Edwin Arlington Robinson
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Untold generations across the world’s cultures have extolled the virtues of gratitude. The world’s major spiritual practices – from Christianity to Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism – all praise gratitude as a moral disposition that elicits a sense of peace and encourages mutual kindness. From Buddha to Marcus Aurelius, spiritual teachers and philosophers have long celebrated the simple act of being thankful.
Can gratitude improve the way you feel? Your health? How long you live?
“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” ~ The Hausa of Nigeria
According to one school of thought, once a person reaches a threshold income of approximately $10,000 per year, money has little to do with contentment. New psychological research is confirming in study after study that regular demonstrations of gratitude will make you happier and healthier.
Gratitude reinforces meaningful relationships and living in the present: to experience gratitude takes two parties – the person giving thanks, and the person receiving it – at a single point in time. It uplifts both spirits and feeds our hearts.
Is gratitude a choice? Can it be learned?
“No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the kingdom of night.” ~Elie Wiesel
The following gratitude quotes and research links highlight some of the most recent (and ancient) thinking on the subject.