Gratitude, a virtue of the best

The feeling of gratitude does not correspond to one of the basic emotions. Quite the opposite. To experience it, a series of complex processes in the mind are required. Not everyone can experience gratitude. It is a virtue reserved for the highest spirits and the best developed intelligences.

Unlike other feelings, gratitude does not simply appear as an impulse. Gratitude requires that there be a system of ethical values, where the concepts of giving and receiving are resolved, in addition to a renunciation of the egocentric vision of life.

The background of gratitude and ingratitude

Gratitude can be defined as a feeling of appreciation and appreciation for the actions that others do on our behalf. It implies a kind of moral debt to those who do us good. Debt that does not mean making a calculation to redeem it, but rather raising the esteem for those who do us a favor or lavish us with good, and being open to the possibility of reciprocating the benefit received.

Not only human beings experience this feeling. Higher animals also have this virtue, although they express it in a rudimentary form. A dog, for example, gives its loyalty to those who take care of it and love it.

People who are not capable of experiencing gratitude have high narcissism. Not only do they have memory problems, but they also assume that they deserve all the help they get. In fact, many of them take complete credit for the benefits they obtain and completely ignore what others contributed to achieve them.

Anyone who has gone through difficulties and resolved them knows the immense value of the help of others. Nothing like feeling prevented from doing something, or trapped, or defeated, to understand that The hand that another extends is a true gift from heaven.

The benefits of gratitude

Gratitude is a subtle and sophisticated feeling. Almost an art. Gratitude germinates from the conviction that human beings are incomplete and that we need each other. It is the product of having developed an ethic of cooperation, rather than an attitude of competition or confrontation.

According to a study carried out by Rollin McCraty and Doc Childre, representatives of HeartMath Research Center and Quantum Intec Inc., respectively, Grateful people obtain great benefits for the proper functioning of their heart, They tend to get sick less and are generally happier.

Grateful people are also people who have difficulty giving way to negative feelings. such as regret, resentment and envy. They are capable of feeling gratitude, precisely because they choose to see the best in people and keep it in their memory.

They are also more generous. They recognize that mutual help is an important value and that is why they are not only able to appreciate the help they receive, but are also willing to help others. That is why not everyone knows how to give thanks, and it is a virtue that only the best have.

How to practice gratitude

Now that you know some of the benefits of gratitude, here are some activities to put it into practice:

gratitude journal

Consists in Take a few minutes a day to write down, in a notebook or in your diary, 3 positive experiences of the day for which you feel grateful. It doesn’t have to be something extraordinary or of great impact. The ideal is to start valuing the little things in everyday life, and give thanks for them.

It can be something as simple as being grateful for the freshly brewed coffee in the morning, the call from a great friend, having enjoyed good health during the day, the hug from a loved one, etc. It is recommended to do it before going to sleepso we end the day on a positive note.

Get up giving thanks

Likewise, it is ideal to start the day on the right foot. To do this, you can Start the day by giving thanks for some positive aspect of your life. This way, you will start the day with a different perspective.

Avoid complaints

Complaining is usually not the way out. In problematic situations the ideal is to focus on the solution. Many people stay stuck in the bad, constantly complaining and, therefore, living unhappy lives.

Instead, start printing gratitude in most of your actionsThank you before each meal; thank those people who, in one way or another, help you; When you feel overwhelmed by your health, be thankful for the abilities you still have, etc. Little by little, the habit will be created and you will be able to notice the well-being that these actions provide.

You might be interested…