“Gratitude is not the only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” –Cicero

The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.” –G.K. Chesterton

From Cicero to Chesterton, influential thinkers across Roman, Christian, and contemporary traditions have extolled the virtue of gratitude. Robert Emmons, the world’s leading expert on gratitude, defines it as “an affirmation of the good and the recognition that the good originates outside the self.”

Along with eminent researcher Michael McCullough, Emmons developed “counting one’s blessings,” one of the most well-supported interventions in positive psychology. This powerful and popular exercise has been shown to boost well-being by decreasing depression and increasing happiness.

Practicing gratitude shifts our attention from what we lack to what we have in life. As a result, we feel happier, experience an upward spiral of positive outcomes, and, in turn, become even more grateful. It’s like compound interest for the soul!

Gratitude is correlated with overall well-being and, as Emmons’s decades of research show, provides a bevy of benefits. Feeling grateful decreases negative affect and increases overall

© Psychology Today