LifeDesign | Gratitude
At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
— Albert Schweitzer
Class Resources
Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for certain people, circumstances, or relationships. This can be an appreciation for past people or things, the present, or optimism for the future. Acknowledging what is good and going well is an essential practice for living a life of fulfillment and joy, and there are concrete steps you can take to develop a gratitude practice and a more grateful mindset.
Introduction to Gratitude
Start here :) This video gives the basics of gratitude and how it can improve your life!
2 Articles on Gratitude
Lead Instructor of LifeDesign shares reflections on the world and gratitude in these uplifting articles.
Gratitude as Medicine
Article from University of California Davis Health on gratitude and its effect on physical and emotional wellbeing.
Gratitude for Happiness
Laurie Santos, a professor of “Psychology and the Good Life” at Yale, speaks about self-improvement and happiness on “CBS This Morning.” (5 minutes)
Hardwiring Happiness
Dr. Rick Hanson connects gratitude, happiness and overcoming the brain's negativity bias. (14 minutes).
An Essay on Gratitude
English-Irish poet David Whyte reflects on gratitude.
The Science of Gratitude
Investigation of Gratitude and Wellbeing
Robert Emmons et al in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377 explores the difference between counting blessings versus counting burdens.
The Science of Gratitude
Shares empirical evidence that gratitude - counting the good things in our lives - makes us happier. At the same time, receiving gratitude makes us feel valued and motivates us to be more generous.
A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way
Adam Grant in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(6), 946, explains why gratitude has so many benefits, not just to individuals, but to communities as well.
The Science of “Thank You”
This article talks about the new (at the time) science of Thank You.
Make it Happen
Gratitude Exercises
13 popular exercises to build gratitude in your life.
How to Give Thanks
This Harvard Health report provides concrete ideas for cultivating gratitude, including thanking someone mentally, keeping a gratitude journal, counting your blessings, praying, and meditating.
Cultivating Gratitude
Robert Emmons explores how to be grateful in many different situations, including beginning a gratitude journal. (5 minutes)
Happy = Grateful
In this TED Talk, Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar maintains that the thing all humans have in common is that each of us wants to be happy. And happiness, he suggests, is born from gratitude. An inspiring lesson in slowing down, looking where you're going, and above all, being grateful. (14 minutes)