Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

GRATITUDE Danube, Melk Austria, October 2015 My thoughts... Gratitude is an open-arms warm embrace that says, “I appreciate you so much.” Gratitude is a child jumping up and down when a grandparent visits. Gratitude is an attitude. Gratitude is a river of life. When we express thanks, we feel good and energetic. Grateful people tend to be more optimistic and empathetic. Gratitude is a relationship builder according to psychological scientist, Robert Emmons of U.C. Davis. Emmons notes two dimensions of gratitude :  1. Gratitude is an affirmation of the good things in life such as benefits and gifts.  2. Gratitude is a perspective on the role others have in adding to our life. For spiritual people, “others” include God. As my wife and I walked along the Danube in Melk, Austria, I felt a sense of gratitude-- thankful for life and family. Gratitude Quotes “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good ...

Thanksgiving and Faith   Amidst the advertisements reminding us that Christmas is a few weeks away, millions in the U.S. will pause to celebrate Thanksgiving. Ideally, people will share a traditional meal with family and friends. It will be a time to experience joy and express gratitude. The tradition carries images of people who had lived in North America for centuries sharing a feast with new arrivals from England. Like a giant gold-framed antique painting, joyful people are forever portrayed in quaint clothes celebrating a harmonious relationship. Christian children learn the English offered thanks to God for their survival and for the harvest. Admittedly, for millions in the U.S., it will not be a joyful occasion. And many might be more in the mood of expressing their sadness and disappointment rather than conjuring up some thankful trope to answer the recurrent question: “And what are you thankful for?” So it is with any feast day round the world. Some people ar...

12 Facts About Grateful People The American Holiday of Thanksgiving is a good time to focus on gratitude. Gratitude is a common human emotion and a virtue among adherents of many religions. Christians are encouraged to count their blessings and offer thanks each day. In psychology, gratitude is a positive emotion expressed toward those who have given some gift or benefit. In the case of religious people, the gift can come from God. It’s no surprise that there is a positive correlation between religiosity or spirituality and gratitude. The Grateful Living 12 --What’s true about grateful people— compared to those who are low on gratefulness? 1.  Higher positive feelings 2.  Higher life satisfaction 3.  More vitality 4.  More optimism 5.  More generous 6.  More helpful 7.  More likely to attend religious services 8.  More likely to practice their faith 9.  Less interested in material goods 10. Less ...