Research suggests that gratitude can’t simply be grouped with other emotions, like happiness or anger, because unlike other emotions, gratitude takes a conscious effort. To be grateful, we must first take the time to recognize that something has been done for our benefit. Living a life of gratitude isn’t easy. Like any spiritual discipline, it requires time, effort, and faithful practice.
Even when we can find reasons to be grateful to God, it is often more challenging to be appreciative of others. It’s natural to think that the opposite of gratitude is being ungrateful, but it’s actually selfishness or self-conceit. When you believe you deserve the good things you receive, you don’t feel the need to be grateful to others.
Gratitude can be difficult because it requires a new way of thinking – a different attitude.
And we may just have to accept life as it is and be grateful for what we have. Research suggests that the return on investment with the practice of gratitude is too abundant to ignore.
Gratitude makes you a better person, not just in the sense of doing nice things for other people, but it also carries with it joy. When I’m more grateful, even though I’m acknowledging that I’m indebted to other people, life feels more like a gift. When life feels like a gift, I feel more engaged and rejoice in the little things around me. In this way, it can act as a helpful balance to irritation, anger, and frustration.
Gratitude motivates us to perform our own acts of kindness for others.
Smitten With Goodness 