{"id":752,"date":"2022-11-23T11:11:45","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T19:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/?p=752"},"modified":"2022-11-23T11:15:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T19:15:39","slug":"attitude-of-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/blog\/2022\/11\/23\/attitude-of-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Attitude of Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Edward F. DeRoche<\/p>\n

For a variety of reasons, I have been reading about the \u201cpower\u201d of engaging in the \u201chabit\u201d of expressing gratitude in what one says and what one does.\u00a0 <\/span>I thought that finding out more about gratitude <\/b>would be an appropriate topic for this month since this is National Gratitude Month, and we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAn attitude of gratitude means creating a conscious mindset and habit to be thankful, and express appreciation for every aspect of your life, both big and small.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Interestingly, gratitude\u2019s powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives.\u00a0 <\/span>Practicing daily gratitude gives us a deeper connection to ourselves, to our family and friends, and to the world around us.<\/p>\n

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., the world\u2019s leading scientific expert on gratitude, writes: \u201cYou literally cannot overplay the hand of gratitude; the grateful mind reaps massive benefits in every domain of life that has been examined so far. There are countless ways in which gratitude could pay off in the workplace [and in homes and schools].\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research has shown that gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress, and drastically improve our overall level of health and wellbeing.\u00a0 <\/span>On average, grateful people tend to have fewer stress-related illnesses, experience less depression, and have lower blood pressure.\u00a0 <\/span>They are more physically fit, they are happier, have a higher income, have more satisfying personal and professional relationships, and are better liked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Studies have shown that people who experience gratitude have more positive emotions (joy, love, happiness) and exhibit fewer negative emotions (bitterness, envy, resentment).\u00a0 <\/span>The \u201cgratitude experience\u201d also contributes to feelings of connectedness, relationships, and better physical health.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s is a quote that makes the case for teaching students the \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d of gratefulness in homes and schools: \u201cGrateful kids are more likely to get A\u2019s in school.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Amy L. Eva, Ph.D., the associate education director at the Greater Good Science Center, writes that \u201cyou can\u2019t teach gratitude practices in a vacuum\u2014especially to teens\u2026.Teens tend to respond more positively to lessons and activities that help them understand themselves and connect with peers\u2026.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In her article, \u201cHow to Teach Gratitude to Tweens and Teens,\u201d she cites a special curriculum that offers insights for authentically nurturing gratitude in students (Greater Good Science Center\u2019s website).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Eva writes that there are three key ways to teach gratitude to children and youth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Exploring identity.\u00a0 <\/span>Identity development remains the central developmental task for adolescents, and this curriculum helps facilitate that by allowing students to explore their character strengths (e.g., traits like honesty, curiosity, perseverance, humility.)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Capitalizing on strengths.\u00a0 <\/span>A gratitude curriculum that builds on strengths is a wonderful counter to focusing on students\u2019 perceived deficits.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Building positive relationships.\u00a0 <\/span>Once they know their strengths, students can leverage them to connect more deeply with others and to do good\u2014in school and beyond.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Two of the first researchers to study gratitude among youth were Jeffrey Froh (Hofstra University) and Giacomo Bono (CSU-Dominguez Hills).\u00a0 <\/span>They have worked with thousands of children and adolescents across the United States. In a recent study, they found \u201cthat teens who had high levels of gratitude when entering high school had less negative emotions and depression, and more positive emotions, life satisfaction, and happiness four years later when they were finishing high school.\u00a0 <\/span>They also had more hope and a stronger sense of meaning in life.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

        Froh and Bono note that there are some specific practices that teachers can use in their classrooms.\u00a0 <\/span>Here are two examples:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. One practice is keeping a gratitude journal.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe asked middle school students simply to list five things for which there were grateful daily for two weeks, and we compared these students to others who were writing about hassles in their life or basic daily life events\u2026.Most significantly, compared to the other students, gratitude journalers reported more satisfaction with their school experience immediately after the two-week period, a result that held up even three weeks later.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n
        2. Another practice is what they call the gratitude visit.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span>In this exercise they had students \u201cwrite a letter to someone who had helped them but whom they\u2019d never properly thanked; the students read their letter to him or her in person, then later discuss their experience with others who also completed a gratitude visit.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          I\u2019ll end this blog with three excellent resources for helping teach and nurture gratitude. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. The first\u2014check out the ideas described in the \u201cGratitude Works Program\u201d sponsored by the National Association of School Psychologists (www.nasponline.org<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            1. A second excellent resource, offered by The Greater Good Science Center, is \u201cNurturing Gratitude from the Inside Out: 30 Activities for Grades K-8 \u201cin which the curriculum includes 30 activities for grades K\u20138.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              1. For a third informative and useful resource, visit characterlab.org\/gratitude<\/a> for a 14-page booklet on the \u201cWhy & How\u201d and several instructional activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                My GRADITUTE to those of who read and share our blogs with others.<\/p>\n

                Edward DeRoche, Ph.D., Director
                \nCharacter Education Resource Center
                \nDepartment of Learning & Teaching \/\/ University of San Diego
                \nWebsite:\u00a0 <\/span>                http:\/charactermatters.sandiego.edu<\/b><\/a>
                \nE-mail:\u00a0 <\/span><\/b>                character@sandiego.edu<\/b><\/a>
                \nNovember 2022 BLOG<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                By Edward F. DeRoche For a variety of reasons, I have been reading about the \u201cpower\u201d of engaging in the \u201chabit\u201d of expressing gratitude in what one says and what…Read More >><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":680,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAttitude of Gratitude - Character Education Resource Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/blog\/2022\/11\/23\/attitude-of-gratitude\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Attitude of Gratitude - Character Education Resource Center\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Edward F. 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