A man met with an accident and lost his left leg. He has now become disabled for the rest of his life. The person has two options in front of him. One he can cry for his lost leg. Another option is that he be thankful that his other three limbs are okay, also he is alive. And think what he can do with his life and three legs. Being grateful is not just an ordinary way of life but a life that is fulfilled in the sense life gives you what you expect of it. This being said, let's delve into the realm of what gratitude is and how it can make our life totally different.
What is Gratitude?
"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."- Henry Ward Beecher
The word Gratitude comes from the Latin word ‘gratus’, which means ‘’pleasing’’ or ‘’thankful’’. In simple terms gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thanks. Others put it this way–’being grateful means complaining is not easy for you’. Putting things together when you are grateful you appreciate the brighter side of things rather than their negatives. As is famous with the glass of water that is not full. A grateful person will see the glass as half full, whereas a negative person will see the same glass as half empty.
What is Greatness?
"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline." -Jim Collins
Greatness is the quality or state of being important, notable, or distinguished. Or simply as something which is not ordinary, which has a lot of importance and value. It can be the exceptional quality or ability that sets an individual, achievement or object apart from ordinary. It can be seen in various facets, like personal greatness and societal greatness.
Personal greatness is about achieving one’s true potential and exceeding one’s personal endeavours. It’s characterised by traits like perseverance, resilience, integrity and various other virtues. It is mainly achieved by self-improvement and overcoming personal challenges. For example Sachin Tendulkar, who is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time because of his abilities and leadership qualities.
Societal greatness, on the other hand, is about making a significant impact on society or contributing to the greater good in society. It may be measured by the positive impact one brings in society. For example, Nelson Mandela sacrificed his 27 years of life to bring a change in the history of South Africa.
Greatness, whether personal or societal, both enhance one another, and have a positive impact on society.
The Philosophy of Gratitude.
Now that you have the idea of what Gratitude is, let's see how philosophers have dealt with gratitude. From classical antiquity to modern times, philosophers have dealt with gratitude extensively. Philosophers have identified different dimensions of gratitude for instance: As an emotion we feel in response to a gift or benefit, as an act we perform to express our thankfulness, and as a virtuous disposition in which we are ready to be grateful to the world we inhabit.
Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the school of philosophy known as Epicureanism, believed that the key to happiness was in appreciating and being grateful for the simple pleasures of life. Stoic philosophers, such as Seneca and Epictetus, also placed great emphasis on gratitude. They believed that by practising gratitude, one could develop a greater sense of contentment and resilience in the face of adversity. Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher emphasised the importance of gratitude in maintaining harmonious relationships and cultivating a virtuous character. Cicero famously called gratitude “the queen of the virtues’’.
How does gratitude lead to greatness?
"The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness".- Dalai Lama
Gratitude, indeed leads to greatness when cultivated intentionally, by nurturing qualities that contribute to personal and societal good. For instance:
Resilience: Studies have shown that more grateful people have more resilience. Vietnam veterans, undergraduates with traumatic histories, and adolescents who lived in a city that had been under missile attack with higher dispositional gratitude reported less severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When we appreciate the positive aspects of our lives, we build emotional resilience.
Empathy and Compassion: Grateful individuals tend to be more empathetic and compassionate. Many studies have found a connection between gratitude and prosocial behaviour which include empathy, volunteering, respect and forgiveness etc.
Generosity and Altruism: Gratitude encourages a desire to give back: Research suggests that gratitude inspires people to be more generous and prosocial. A study found that participants in the gratitude condition behaved more cooperatively and less selfishly than people who had not been made to feel gratitude.
Positive Mindset and Creativity: Studies suggest that gratitude may live up to its reputation as ‘’the mother of all virtues’’ by encouraging the development of other virtues such as patience, humility, and wisdom.
Gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance. When we recognise the good, we become more open-minded and creative.
Improved Mental Health: Many studies have examined possible connections between gratitude and various elements of psychological well-being. In general, more grateful people are happier, more satisfied with their lives, less materialistic and less likely to suffer from burnout.
Enhanced Relationship: Given its role as ‘social glue’, evidence points to gratitude’s social benefits as well. Research suggests that gratitude inspires people to be more generous, kind, and helpful, strengthens relationships, including romantic relationships, and may improve the climate in workplaces.
No wonder that sociologist Georg Simmel called gratitude ‘’the moral memory of mankind’’ for it encourages people to appreciate and pay back, and paying back is in itself an extraordinary act.
What is ingratitude and its consequences?
In simple terms ingratitude can be defined as the fact that someone is not grateful for something. Or the forgetfulness of or poor return for kindness received. And a lack of appreciation for benefits one has received or is receiving, often leading to an attitude of entitlement or disregard for the generosity of others. Ingratitude can have disastrous consequences both for the individual as well as for the society.
Individuals:
Emotional Impact: Ingratitude can lead to negative emotions such as bitterness, jealousy, and discontentment.
Mental Health: A lack of gratitude may contribute to a focus on what one lacks rather than what one has, potentially leading to dissatisfaction and lack of creativity and innovation.
Society: Ingratitude can weaken the social fabric by undermining the reciprocal bonds that hold communities together. When people fail to acknowledge and reciprocate acts of kindness, it can lead to a breakdown in trust and cooperation. Societies that are characterized by ingratitude may become more self-centered, with a focus on rights and entitlements rather than duties and obligations.
Psychological Perspective: Ingratitude is often contrasted with gratitude, which is known to have numerous benefits for mental health and interpersonal relationships. Ingratitude, therefore, can be seen as a barrier to these benefits, potentially leading to a less fulfilling life.
Sociological Perspective: Ingratitude can be viewed as a failure to reciprocate within the social norms of giving and receiving, which can disrupt the balance of social exchanges and lead to societal disharmony.
Philosophical Perspective: For philosopher David Hume, ingratitude is ‘the most horrible and unnatural crime that a person is capable of committing’. For Immanuel Kant, it is quite simply, ‘the essence of vileness’.
Why should one be Grateful?
There are numerous benefits of being grateful. From personal to social benefits. In almost all walks of life gratitude can improve your life and make you more happier and satisfied with life. Here are some of the benefits of Gratitude backed by Science.
Mental Health Benefits:
Reduces depression
Lowers anxiety
Increases happiness
Boosts self-esteem
Improves resilience
Reduces envy and resentment
Increases optimism
Enhances Self-compassion
Improves sleep
Boosts mood
Physical Health Benefits:
Lowers blood pressure
Strengthens the immune system
Reduces chronic pain
Improves heart health
Reduces inflammation
Social Benefits
Strengthens relationships
Increases empathy
Promotes cooperation
Inspires generosity
Makes you more likeable
Other Benefits
Improves decision-making
Enhances motivation
Increases productivity
Reduces materialism
Leads to a more meaningful life
Makes you a better role model
Contributes to a happier world
Increases trust
These are some of the benefits of Gratitude backed by science. And you may experience more or something different altogether. Please share your experience in the comments below with Gratitude, how it benefited you and how you cultivated it.
Why should one crave greatness?
We humans are fundamentally the superior species giving our special abilities that no other species have like communication, intellect, conscience, imagination, self-awareness etc. So what is the purpose of having all those qualities is we do not strive for greatness.
Also the striving for greatness can be seen as a fundamental human drive. It is part of our nature to want to push beyond our limits and achieve something extraordinary.
In Islam emphasis is put on achieving excellence. The Prophet of Islam Said ‘’Verily God has prescribed Ihsan (excellence) in all things.
Can one live a fulfilled life without being grateful?
Studies have examined possible connections between gratitude and various possible connections between gratitude and various elements of psychological well-being. In general, more grateful people are happier, more satisfied with their lives, less materialistic, and less likely to suffer from burnout. And there are other personal and social benefits of gratitude. Well then without being grateful you will not experience these things in your life at all or with minimum of them. So there is a positive correlation between Gratitude and fulfilment in life.
Gratitude and contentment.
Gratitude and contentment are closely intertwined, each reinforcing the other that contributes to a sense of satisfaction with life.
Gratitude Leads to Contentment: Gratitude, by its very nature, involves appreciating what one has rather than longing for what is absent. This shift in focus from lack to abundance fosters contentment.
In the study, participants were asked to leave notes to people who meant a lot in their lives – for example, teachers, spouse, or friends. And these notes were not small papers saying ‘thank you’. They had to be detailed and more in-depth. Surprisingly, participants could finish writing lengthy gratitude notes in less than five minutes, and reported feelings of contentment after doing so.
Contentment Fosters Gratitude: When one feels content with life, there is a natural inclination to feel grateful for the circumstances and experience that contribute to this state of satisfaction.
Contentment provides a stable foundation from which gratitude can arise, as it reflects a general satisfaction with one’s life as it is, without constant striving for more.
Mutual Reinforcement: In recent studies it was found that gratitude and life satisfaction mutually predict each other over time. The reciprocal relationships suggest the existence of a virtuous circle of human well-being: higher levels of gratitude increase contentment, which in turn increases gratitude, leading to a positive spiral.
In essence, gratitude acts as a catalyst for contentment, and contentment, in turn, nurtures a grateful mindset.
Gratitude and Inspiration
Gratitude leads to inspiration and influence by fostering a sense of connectedness, motivation and self-improvement. A 2011 study by Robert Emmons and Anjali Mishra found that people feel motivated and energized when they experience gratitude, and that gratitude encourages them to make progress towards their goals. In a 2006 study led by Monica Barlett and David DeSteno, people induced to feel grateful exerted more effort to help their benefactors and were also more likely to help complete strangers! Gratitude motivates us not only to improve our own lot in life but also the circumstances of the people around us. In an article published in Greater Good Magazine, they identified four distinct pathways through which expressing gratitude can motivate people to improve themselves and their communities.
Connectedness
Elevation
Humility
Indebtedness
Gratitude can inspire us to become more productive members of society and better citizens of the world.
Gratitude and Optimism
Research has shown that gratitude and optimism are positively correlated. Both enhance each other. In one of the studies, the researchers found that gratitude contributes to accentuating the positive aspects of the day, whereas optimism functions by minimizing the negative aspects of the day.
Gratitude is the antidote for toxic things that come into our lives. It fosters optimism, which strengthens hope. The list of things we can and should be thankful for even in our darkest moments is practically inexhaustible. When we express gratitude, we recognize the goodness in our lives, even amidst challenges. This recognition fuels optimism, as we trust good things will continue to happen.
How to cultivate Gratitude?
"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline." - Jim Collins
There are a ton of ways to be grateful, and improve your life, here I am providing some of the ways. You don’t have to try them all but you can experiment with them and try what works for you. Come again and again to look for different techniques and with time you will get better and have a more fulfilled life.
Gratitude Journal:
No Criticism:
Three Good Things
Mental subtraction
Gratitude letters and gratitude visits
Do not hesitate to be happy
Find a gratitude buddy
Write Thank You notes.
Teach children the benefits of a gratitude practice
Do activities that physically represent Gratitude
Practice mindfulness
Revisit and reframe past events
Encouraging others to adopt a gratitude practice.
Lead by example
Start small
Educate and share information
Creating Savoring Rituals
Experiencing Awe
Fostering Admiration in Couples
This is just the list of things that you can do to increase gratitude in your life. If you want to know more about them please visit the following article in which I discussed these in detail.
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others”. - Marcus Tullius Cicero