What will you do for World Gratitude Day? (21 Sept)

Aligned to topics: Culture, Appreciation, Gratitude

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John F. Kennedy

Some of the science of gratitude

Some psychologists categorize three types of gratitude:

1. gratitude as an "affective trait" (one's overall tendency to have a grateful disposition),
2. a mood (daily fluctuations in overall gratitude), and
3. an emotion (a more temporary feeling of gratitude that one may feel after receiving a gift or a favor.?

Then according to Dr Robert Emmons, a leading researcher on the topic, there are three stages of gratitude:

1. Recognizing what we are grateful for,
2. Acknowledging it, and lastly,
3. Appreciating it. In other words, appreciation is the final component and the last stage in the gratitude process.

Did you know?

Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, fully enjoy good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. In short, giving thanks makes life easier and more enjoyable. We can express this sense of appreciation in a couple of different ways.

What, there is a symbol?

The official gratitude symbol has two main parts to it: a simple spiral center and three circular dots on the lower exterior of the spiral. It also has a third secondary part on the bottom of the spiral which resembles a hook. This hook is recognized as a Makau, which has a significance in Hawaiian cultures.

There's also a flower...

The Hydrangea symbolizes gratitude. The always stunning hydrangea symbolises gratitude for being understood. They represent anything that is sincerely heartfelt and so perfectly represent that feeling of gratitude.

What can you do?

Start by saying 'Thank You' to your team and colleagues. Some other things could be:

• Peer Recognition?
• Offer A Helping Hand
• Get Them A Surprise gift
• Create A Gratitude Wall

Challenge: Let me know what you will do to show your gratitude and appreciation, and I will leave you with this...

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie