Gratitude is one of the most widely researched concepts within the study of well-being, and has been found to be a positive emotion that contributes to one’s emotional resilience and life satisfaction. It also plays a powerful role in strengthening interpersonal relationships.
Why Gratitude?
There is much in today’s world that can numb our gratitude, such as materialism, high levels of anxiety and stress caused by competitiveness, and overuse of technology. Levels of gratitude drop when we spend less and less time paying attention to our surroundings with a sense of gratefulness. To counteract this, there are a number of well researched interventions.
Project on Gratitude
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he importance of gratitude has been highlighted in numbers of prevention programme in the CSRP Education team, including “Professor Gooley & The Flame of Mind”, “The Adventure of DoReMiFa”, and QTN programme for both primary and secondary schools. In these programmes, students will learn about gratitude through completing online lessons, participating in in-class group discussion, watching short clips, and writing a gratitude journal/ card/ note.
Gratitude goes beyond an emotion or thought, and is something that is actualized in one’s daily life through the heartfelt active practice of giving thanks. It has positive impact on one’s emotional wellbeing, pro-social behaviors, as well as interpersonal relationship. Let’s start appreciating your surroundings and spreading the positive energy at the moment!
Gratitude in the Workplace
CSRP has recently started a ritual at the office. Staff members are encouraged to practice gratitude and hope by sharing their new year wishes and thinking about “what went well” (WWW) throughout the day. It is believed that such practice will promote positive emotions and build optimism. The WWW Board does not only encourage staff members to recognise the positive side of their lives, but also create opportunity for them to express gratitude to others in the work place so that the positive emotions is spread.
References
Algoe, S. B. (2012). Find, remind, and bind: the functions of gratitude in everyday relationships. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 6, 6, 455-469.
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.
Norrish, J. (2015). Positive Psychology series. Positive education: The Geelong Grammar School Journey. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.