In our day to day, we live so hasty, so in autopilotthat we tend to give things for sitting. When was the last time you stopped the frantic rhythm of your day to give thanks for what you have? Feeling grateful for something we receive, get or possess is something natural in the human being. However, do we really understand the power of this emotion in our lives? To understand your influence, we will explore your origen, purpose y How to grow it Healthy.
According to psychologists such as Robert Emmons and Philip Watkins, the gratitude It develops in childhood as a response to the benefits that others give us, linking to a feeling of connection y reciprocity. This process is essential for our emotional and social well -being, since it encourages a Positive attitude y strengthens interpersonal relationships (Watkins et al., 2003).
The way of expressing and receiving that gratitude is deeply influenced by factors such as social context and education. As the psychologist John Bowlby explained, the early experiences of link and care greatly influence how we value the actions of others and the things that give them importance (Bowlby, 1988).
Also, the culture Play a key role. In collectivist societies such as India, gratitude is reflected in acts that seek return favors y Maintain balance in relationships. On the other hand, in individualistic societies such as the United States, it is valued more as an expression of autonomy and personal success.
What is gratitude
Gratitude has been defined in many ways. As an emotion, it is a feeling of thanks and joy in response to having received a giftseither physical or intangible, of a specific person or as a result of an abstract benefit, such as Feel lucky for having experienced a certain moment, for a vital situation present, past or for the mere fact of being alive (Fitzgerald, 1998; Peterson and Seligman, 2004; Emmons, 2007).
From positive psychology, it is also considered a fortaleza That you can train to help us focus on the positive, improve our emotional well -being and strengthen social connections.
Even in difficult times, where we see everything black and without solution, gratitude can play a role transformer. According to Robert Emmons, in the toughest moments we can also find reasons to be grateful, such as the support from others or the lessons that we learn from experience (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). Practicing gratitude in difficult times does not mean ignoring suffering, but recognizing what we can still value in the midst of adversity, allowing us to gain strength to face what is coming.
Cultivating gratitude implies a Daily effort. One way to do it is through a diary of gratitude in which we write down the things we are grateful for every day (Wood et al., 2010). This allows us to see even a small ray of light in the most gray days.
It is also essential to express our gratitude to others, either through words or actions, such as writing a Letter of gratitude. Studies have shown that expressing gratitude not only benefits those who receive it, but also improves our own mental Health and happiness (Watkins et al., 2003; Something, 2012).
In conclusion, cultivating gratitude in our day to day can have a significant impact on our emotional well -being and, in the most complex moments, help us face them with a broader perspective, focusing on what is really important for us.
Literature:
Algoe, S. B. (2012). Find, remind, and bind: The functions of gratitude in everyday relationships. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 6(6), 455–469.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development. Basic Books.
Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389.
Fitzgerald, P. (1998). The Psychology of Gratitude. Cambridge University Press.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Oxford University Press.
Watkins, P. C., et al. (2003). Gratitude and happiness: Development of a measure of gratitude, and relationships with subjective well-being. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 31(5), 431–451.
Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 890–905.
