Gratitude studies

Further to that module on happiness, you might like to sample this issue of the magazine Greater Good ('The Science of a Meaningful Life'). Its theme is 'Building Gratitude' and here's the come-on:

Groundbreaking research has revealed that practicing gratitude can lead to transformative life changes. More than a simple "thank you," studies show gratitude can build physical health, personal happiness, and strong social bonds. This issue of Greater Good explores how this research can apply to everyday life, from romantic relationships to children's classrooms.

I love it: 'studies show...'. Strong social bonds can be built, would you believe? I've been toiling these 64 years along a road that seemed endless, stretching forward to the furthest horizon as I struggled to understand why when people behaved towards me in a helpful or obliging way and I responded with a demeaning slur, or by tossing a smelly fish into their front room, or by personally delivering a sound thrashing, they would react in a sullen, angry or even sometimes obstructive manner. I am now apprised of my error.

From this article you can learn that the expression of gratitude is 'key to a strong and lasting relationship', since 'a successful relationship doesn't just depend on how partners divide labor, but on how they each express gratitude for the labor the other one contributes'.

From this one there's so much to learn I don't know how to convey it all. I'll just quote from it:

[G]ratitude is more than a pleasant feeling; it is also motivating. Gratitude serves as a key link between receiving and giving: It moves recipients to share and increase the very good they have received. Because so much of human life is about giving, receiving, and repaying, gratitude is a pivotal concept for our social interactions...

Yet gratitude's benefits are rarely discussed these days; indeed, in contemporary American society, we've come to overlook, dismiss, or even disparage the significance of gratitude.

That's it exactly. People are always dismissing and disparaging gratitude. You hear it everywhere: 'Don't say thanks, kick him in the teeth'; 'A gift? Well, why not, you owed me.' Etc. (Thanks: AL.)