Importance of Gratitude

Introduction
Gratitude is defined as the
"...fertiliser for the mind, spreading connections and improving its functions in nearly every realm of experience..."
Robert Emmons as quoted by Michelle Gibbings, 2023k

It is a character trait and a positive emotion that arises when you are aware of what you have and how thankful you are for it.
NB Emotions impact where you focus your attention and what you decide to do.
Practising gratitude does not mean you ignore other negative emotions or feelings like stress, sadness, hurt, anger, etc

Parts of Gratitude

There are 2 parts to it:

i) you recognise that you have obtained a positive outcome

ii) you understand that an external source is responsible for the positive outcome.
It is a mental frame of reference that shapes how you see the world and, ultimately impacts your thoughts and actions; it changes how we process what's happening around us.
It helps create space, perspective and contentment.

Research has shown that people
"...in the grateful condition reported significantly greater life satisfaction, greater optimism for the coming weeks, fewer physical symptoms (ie, aches and pains) and exercised more..."
Robert Emmons, et al as quoted by Michelle Gibbings, 2023k
Furthermore, gratitude plays a
"...significant role in elevating well-being, improving resilience, enhancing relationships and enabling progress, all elements critical in a constantly changing and challenging working world..."
Michelle Gibbings, 2023k

Rather than letting a situation overwhelm you, gratitude can help you handle challenging situations.
Grateful employees are more likely to help their colleagues, eg collaboration. Furthermore, it can help in idea elaboration and creativity.
Happiness, gratitude and optimism are linked and can be learnt.
"...optimistic people generally feel that good things will last a long time and will have a beneficial effect on everything they do. And they think that bad things are isolated: they won't last long and won't affect other parts of life..."
Martin Seligman as quoted by Michelle Gibbings, 2023k

Practising Gratitude
Practising gratitude daily, eg recording 3 things that you have achieved during the day, are grateful for and why, can help rewire the brain's frame of reference. Establishing this daily ritual as a routine or habit can unleash surprising benefits. One of the most powerful strategies is focusing on what you can do for others. When you do something unexpectedly nice for someone, it activates the brain's happy chemicals that make you feel good.
NB It's important to express your gratitude to someone who helps you
"...a thank you goes a long way and is an important part of the gratitude process..."
Michelle Gibbings, 2023k
Gratitude is about forming and nurturing the right relationships.

Benefits of Gratitude

(source: https://infograph.venngage.com)