Gratitude as a core value brings satisfaction, energy, and grace to life and the workplace. It means ‘’a state of being thankful’’ in which humans appreciate and affirm the goodness in life.
According to psychologists, it is a positive emotional response that we recognize on giving or taking comfort or benefit from someone. Gratitude can do wonders in improving physical and mental health, social relations, and personal dignity.
Robert Emmons, one of the greatest psychological experts in the modern world, has divided gratitude into two crucial components. First is the affirmation that the world is blessed with good, rewards, and advantages.
While the other part of gratitude is the recognition that the higher authority has granted us several gifts to attain goodness in our lives.
The social dimension mainly includes the value of gratitude in our lives. It is an emotion that strengthens relationships among people because it makes us realize how we have been supported and encouraged by other people.
Gratitude is based on the encouragement not only to praise gifts but also to pay them back. That is why the sociologist defined it as ‘’the moral memory of mankind.’’
Thus, gratitude is a key value that makes connections among humans more formidable where mutual cooperation rules and benefits society positively.
Impacts of Gratitude as a Core Value
Gratitude is a strong emotion and a core value that exercises its benefits in all fields of life; emotional, social, physical, mental, spiritual, and professional. These advantages given below one by one will make you realize the influence of gratitude in your life.
8 Emotional Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude is a humanitarian act that you do to keep up the spirits of others. It spreads in the air as your one gesture of gratefulness results in influencing others to respond to it.
Below are some of the main emotional effects of gratitude that will surely illuminate your mind:
1. Holistic Development
Expressing gratitude can help you achieve holistic growth. You become physically, mentally, emotionally socially, and spiritually stronger.
Thankful people are more courteous, frank, and well-balanced. While those people who do not return thanks are more abnormal, depressed, and neurotic.
2. Optimistic Stance
Gratitude as a core value works like a ray of hope that makes a person better and brighter. It infuses the spirit of life, exuberance, and positive energy into him.
He looks at life with optimism and does not allow the evils of gloom, depression, and jealousy to come his way. It brightens his soul, broadens his heart, and illuminates his mind.
3. Satisfaction
If we compare the lives of grateful and mean people, we will find that the former is happier, more satisfied, and more content in their lives. Gratitude fills his heart with positive vibes as he does not waste his energies on leg-pulling, backbiting, and evil intentions.
His heart is always pure and that serves as a contrast to the selfish person who does not find real happiness.
4. Self-Restraint
Self-restraint involves control and concentration. It enables us to be consistent in terms of making the ‘’better choice’’ for our lasting health, career prospects, and happiness. Research shows that people who preferred gratitude as a core value over happiness or feeling impartial have better self-control.
Below are some more important characteristics of self-restraint in our lives:
- Enhances decision-making capacity
- Overcome Temptations
- Increases ratio of success
- Ensures success
- Improves personal relations
- Live a contented life
- Helps avoid greed
- Make a strong personality
5. Develop Positive Emotions
Gratitude instills constructive thoughts and emotions in us. How can a person who is grateful for what he has been bestowed with fall into the trap of envy and jealousy?
Envy is the sign of ungrateful, mean, and hollow people who are always consumed with resentment and discontent. Well, Shakespeare has made jealousy synonymous with ‘’the green-eyed monster’’. Apologies to the people who have got this rare color! In addition, the hearts and souls of such people are also dark.
6. Enhances Self-Esteem
Those people who practice gratitude as a core value and thankfulness never get caught up in the maze of self-doubt, diffidence, and self-pity. They are satisfied with who they are and respect their potential, talents, and God-gifted virtues.
Self-worth and self-assurance are the qualities of a thankful and contented person while picking unnecessary errors and belittling yourself are the traits of ungrateful people.
7. Prevents Suicidal Thoughts
Recognition of your virtues and thankfulness for your gifts rejuvenates our spirits and helps us fight suicidal thoughts and attempts. People take their own lives because they have no self-respect and think themselves insignificant. They are blindfolded and ignorant of what nature has blessed them with. Instead of repaying the gifts, they reach the heights of ingratitude by committing suicide.
8. Helps in Self-Awareness
Acceptance and thankfulness for your positive characteristics will help you discover yourself. Self-aware people never indulge in negating their self-worth and abilities, rather they take pride in what they are capable of.
On a broader level, they realize their powerlessness and limitations in the scheme of the universe, but it never lowers their courage to do whatever is in their control. They are aware of the presence of Fate and try to shape their destiny by living within the borders of natural laws through goodness and grace.
8 Social Benefits of Gratitude
If individuals practice gratitude as a core value in their lives, it can be contagious. A simple smiling emoji cheers you up and a sympathetic tweet for a famous celebrity can turn viral!
More people get inspired by it leading to making a society empathetic, resilient, and graceful.
1. Strong Bonds
Grateful people are able to build strong relationships with others. Instead of staying in a shell, they reach out to others and communicate with them well.
They know the importance of appreciating others which makes them agreeable to others. It leads to maintaining a credible bond with others and projects satisfaction on both a familial and societal level.
2. Generosity & Compassion
Gratitude as a core value runs like blood in society making us help one another, and show big-heartedness, and kindness. People blessed with a grace never leave others in the lurch, rather risking their lives to protect others.
They do not sit and watch others drown in the bog of confusion, misunderstandings, and blunders. On the contrary, their hearts are filled with generosity to pinpoint their flaws and make them save from downfalls.
3. Forgiveness
A big heart teems with tolerance, forgiveness, and patience. Gratefulness allows people to forget the mistakes of others and forgive them open-heartedly.
They do not keep grudges against other people and do not manipulate them. Furthermore, they also forgive their selves and make amends for their mistakes.
Instead of sticking to their flaws adamantly, they accept them and try to overcome these shortcomings to make them better.
4. More Likable
People who apply gratitude in their personal lives or workplace are more agreeable, pleasant, and acceptable. They enjoy their wider social networks because they are more frank, candid, and reliable than those who are very miserly in terms of appreciation and thankfulness.
Dislikeable people generally lack the ability to praise and give positive compliments. It creates a natural dislike for them in society.
5. More Friendly & Sociable
Expressing gratitude improves our friendships and makes us more affable and sociable. When we pass an encouraging gesture or simply say ‘well done’’ to our friend, it not only boosts him but also creates positive energy within us.
It strengthens friendships and allows us to share our personal problems with friends. Moreover, it develops understanding and better communication among friends.
Below are some more beneficial features of being friendly and sociable:
- Enhances mental health
- Uplifts mood
- Decreases risk of mental illnesses
- Projects a sense of protection and belonging
- Put trust in others
- Stronger communication skills
- Make formidable friendships
- Enhances chances of progress
6. Lessens Isolation
Gratitude is such a positive virtue that it decreases loneliness in society. When we greet someone well or appreciate his brilliance, it not only sends a positive stimulus to the other person but also bridges the gap in communication.
Ultimately, it results in firm connections as people get naturally closer to others. They are not cut off from society but add their share in the betterment and welfare of it.
7. Build Up Familial Bonds
Paying positive tribute and praise for other family members and also celebrating the blessings of life lead to the strengthening of family relationships. Research shows that children whose parents are suffering from mental illnesses can cope with the hardships of life more positively. They know the stakes of life and also the value of the bounties it offers.
But children who are brought up in a protective environment and are spoon-fed never get a chance to see life’s blessings and repay them.
8. Enhances Social Encouragement & Support
A thankful person not only gets social praise but also wins support from the other people around him. Gratitude is a reciprocal emotion as we get back what we deliver.
If we appreciate others, they will naturally pay it back with even more enthusiasm. Humans are social beings as they need support, motivation, and inspiration.
Gratefulness is the best way to achieve it as it makes us more cheerful, supportive, and philanthropic.
8 Spiritual Benefits of Gratitude
Thankfulness is a spiritual force that helps us achieve divine mercy. It infuses the spirit of all-enveloping love and humanitarianism in human beings.
We can become visionaries and spiritual-minded people if we express gratitude for both God and other fellow humans.
1. Gratitude Helps Us Know God
When we feel gratitude toward God, it opens the window to recognize Him. We see Him through our spiritual vision and make our belief strong by obeying Him despite the fact that He is invisible.
His benevolence, forgiveness, and blessings make us closer to Him. We understand Him through signs that we find in Nature.
2. Gratitude Makes Us Submit to God’s Will
Expressing gratefulness to God helps us comprehend the inevitable fate and will of God. We feel indebtedness to Him for all the favors He has showered on us.
It will encourage us to show oblige for His bounties and serve Him well through complete submission. It is required of us to pay homage to His decisions through thick and thin.
3. Gratitude Protects Us From Envy
Envy means yearning for the favors others are bestowed with. A grateful person never gets succumbed to the evils of envious feelings and pays his gratitude for the bounties and talents He has given him.
He always thinks that God has granted him more than he deserves and never compares himself with the affluent people, rather he looks at the impoverished ones.
4. Gratitude Makes Our Faith Deep
Our thankfulness to God makes our belief in Him strong and unwavering. We become more contented and never lament the deprivations of life.
Even after undergoing hard difficulties, gratitude helps us fight negative feelings, depression, and anxiety. We believe that he is with us, and he will provide us with the means of sustenance in life as he is the Master of the universe.
5. Gratitude Makes Us Humble
The feelings of gratefulness instill humility and modesty in us. We feel humble toward not only God but also humans.
Our arrogance and egoism never drive us away from the path of virtue when we appreciate others or handle matters with grace. Humbleness is praised by God as a haughty and rude person who never gets kindness and mercy from the Almighty and destroys both his life and hereafter.
6. Gratitude Brings Peace and Happiness
Gratefulness leads to harmony and happiness in our lives. When we feel satisfaction over what God has given us, a calm and serene feeling arises in our hearts.
We tend to be more exuberant, peaceful, and composed. While an ungrateful person never finds tranquility in his life as he wants to accumulate more power, wealth, and status. Eventually, he has to take sleeping pills to relax.
The following are the most significant features of peace and happiness in our lives:
- Enhance focus
- Inner Strength and courage
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and frustrations
- Blissful life
- Tranquility of mind
- Sound judgment
- Adds patience, forbearance, and resilience
- Sleep soundly
7. Gratitude Prevents from Worries & Makes Us Dream
Getting restless over future troubles and miseries is a sign of an ungrateful person. He always gets immersed in what the future has in store for him which leads to his utter disappointments and wretchedness.
On the contrary, a thankful person puts all trust in God and lives in the present rather than getting caught up in the maze of disillusionment. Gratitude instills in us the capability to dream to attain our goals. The importance of dreams forms part of Pulo Coelho’s The Alchemist in which the protagonist embarks on a journey to fulfill his dreams of getting a treasure and getting self-realization in the process.
8. Gratitude Guards Against Devilish Thoughts
What makes a difference between Man and Satan is the feeling of gratitude. Adam and Eve instantly apologized to God for their ungrateful act of eating the forbidden fruit.
But Satan kept on his arrogant and unthankful attitude. Gratitude on the part of humans keeps them obedient to God and helps them fight against devilish thoughts.
Negative feelings of envy, arrogance, depression, and self-deception never hinder them from achieving the favors of God.
8 Professional Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude at the workplace strengthens the connection between the employees and uplifts their spirits. It bridges the gap in communication and results in the betterment of the company.
Simply saying thank you or well done can turn the workplace environment into a positive and progressive one.
1. Gratitude Makes Environment Positive
Gratefulness makes the whole workplace environment a positive and productive one. Instead of picking faults with one’s own self or others breeds conflict, animosity, and leg-pulling.
While gratitude encourages people to appreciate one another through grace and positivity. They look at life with brighter glasses and do not get subdued by negative feelings.
2. Improves Physical and Mental Health
Thankless people are more prone to both physical and mental illnesses. While grateful ones are more agile, fit, and healthy as their immune system is stronger than the ungrateful ones.
They are mentally active and sound too as they deal better with depression, stress, and anxiety at the workplace. It leads to a healthy workplace environment.
3. Mindfulness at the Workplace
Thankful people are mindful of their surroundings, behaviors, and feelings. They nourish positive thinking, and a high level of optimism, and form formidable relationships with their colleagues.
Meditation allows them to dig deep into their Self and focus on the gifts they are given by God. It makes them more proficient at work as they are aware of themselves.
The following are the salient characteristics of being mindful at the workplace:
- Make healthy relationships
- Increase task Execution
- Enhance motivation
- Cope with work stress
- Increase leadership qualities
- Enhance concentration
- Add to productivity
- Lessen conflicts and clashes
4. Dealing with Diversity in the Workplace
People have their own nature, beliefs, and behaviors; therefore, employers must form a strategy to appreciate the employee according to their diverse temperaments. As each individual is unique due to their level of intellect, background, and skills, there must be a plan to inculcate gratitude in the workplace keeping in mind their dissimilarities.
5. Gratitude Forms Bonds
Gratitude is a reciprocal feeling as it creates a positive impact on both parties. It builds strong relationships among co-workers.
To strengthen bonds among colleagues, they must appreciate each other by saying ‘thank you or sending a message of praise.
It will form a constructive environment where the workers will feel each other’s importance in the company.
6. Gratitude Makes Exceptional Leaders
Running a company can be a hectic and stressful job for leaders. But gratitude can provide them with relief from excessive work as it releases mental stress.
It can alleviate anxiety and uplift mood. Consequently, it will make the workplace more productive. When a leader sets the example of giving thanks, it will be emulated by the other staff as well.
7. Gratitude Builds Healthy Competition in the Workplace
Competition among co-workers is natural but it must be constructive to build a positive company culture. Instead of nourishing jealousy for the efficient colleague, the company must infuse the spirit of gratitude within it.
It will help gain better results because thankfulness will replace envy and grudges. The workers will struggle hard to compete with one another by paying attention to the potential and talent God has given them.
8. Gratitude Helps Tackle Social Threats
Several kinds of social threats can create hurdles in the cam environment of a workplace. These include mutual conflicts, racial prejudices, harassment, and gender discrimination.
But gratitude helps overcome these challenges and build a just and conducive environment in a company. It bridges the gaps among employees and makes them more focused and connected.
Conclusion
Gratitude is a complementary value that must be inculcated through constant practice. It must be made a familial habit and a custom as it can be taught to children from a very early age. It creates a positive impact on the holistic development of both an individual and society.
So, keep on registering your gratitude in journals and make solid affirmations to nurture this positive trait in yourself. Henry James sums up gratitude in the following line:
“The deepest craving of human nature is to be appreciated.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is gratitude a core value?
Gratitude is a core value because it helps to create an atmosphere of respect, appreciation, and kindness. When we practice gratitude, we recognize that others have contributed to our successes and happiness in some way, whether through their work or simply by being our friends.
Gratitude encourages us to value the efforts of those around us and be thankful for what we have been given. It also makes us more mindful of our own actions and how they impact others, as well as looking for ways to give back to others in return.
Gratitude helps to create a positive environment where we can all work together to achieve common goals and objectives.
What is meant by gratitude in human values?
Gratitude in human values refers to the recognition, appreciation, and thankfulness of one person towards another. It is the understanding that we are all connected and owe something to someone else at times.
Gratitude can be expressed through words, actions, or even simple gestures of kindness, such as sending a card or making a donation to a charity.
When we practice gratitude, we open ourselves up to being more generous towards others and recognizing the good in them, rather than focusing on our own wants or needs.
Gratitude helps us to cultivate a sense of compassion and respect for one another, which can lead to stronger relationships between people. In this way, gratitude is a key part of human values.
What are the 3 qualities of gratitude?
• Appreciation: This means showing appreciation for the good things in life and recognizing that others have contributed to our successes.
• Generosity: Being generous towards others, even when we don’t get anything in return.
• Respect: Practicing respect and kindness towards everyone, regardless of their background or situation.
What is the moral value of gratitude?
The moral value of gratitude is that it encourages us to think of others before ourselves and to be thankful for the good things we have in life.
It also teaches us to recognize our own privilege, as well as the importance of giving back to others whenever possible.
Gratitude helps us to foster positive relationships with people from all walks of life and to appreciate the small things in life. Ultimately, gratitude is a powerful tool for creating a kinder, more compassionate world.
What are the 7 benefits of gratitude?
• Increased happiness
• Improved relationships
• Stress relief
• Increased self-esteem
• Better decision-making
• Improved mental health
• Positive outlook
Is gratitude a virtue or value?
Gratitude is both a virtue and a value. It is a virtue because it promotes moral behavior, such as kindness and respect, which have positive impacts on our relationships with others.
Gratitude is also a value because it encourages us to be thankful for the good things in life and recognize how our actions impact those around us.
Ultimately, gratitude is a powerful tool for creating positive change in our world.
What are the four A’s of gratitude?
• Awareness: Being aware and acknowledging all that we have to be thankful for.
• Appreciation: Showing appreciation for the good things in our lives, and recognizing that others have contributed to our successes.
• Acceptance: Accepting what life brings us with grace, and not taking things for granted.
• Action: Practicing gratitude through words, actions, and gestures of kindness.
What type of strength is gratitude?
Gratitude is a psychological strength that enables us to recognize and be thankful for the good things in life.
It can also help us to cultivate resilience and cope with difficult experiences, as it reminds us of the blessings we have and encourages us to focus on what we have rather than what we don’t have.
Ultimately, gratitude gives us the strength to find joy in life and make the most of every situation.
What is the highest form of gratitude?
The highest form of gratitude is acknowledging the divine presence in all aspects of life. This means recognizing that we are surrounded by an abundance of blessings, and being thankful for every moment we have.
It also involves being generous towards others, even when we don’t get anything in return, and using our resources to help those who are less fortunate.
Ultimately, the highest form of gratitude is an attitude that radiates from within and has a positive impact on everyone around us.
What are 5 ways to show gratitude?
• Acknowledge the good deeds of others
• Express your gratitude verbally
• Send a meaningful gift or card
• Demonstrate kindness in action
• Make time for those you care about