{"id":1365,"date":"2012-04-30T04:22:27","date_gmt":"2012-04-30T04:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.renando.com\/blog\/?p=1365"},"modified":"2015-02-15T19:00:57","modified_gmt":"2015-02-15T19:00:57","slug":"the-importance-of-gratitude-please-be-thankful-its-for-your-own-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/the-importance-of-gratitude-please-be-thankful-its-for-your-own-good\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of gratitude: Please be thankful, it\u2019s for your own good"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Gratitude is good for business and good for your well being, or so says the collection of studies below. \u00a0You can thank me later.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1369\" title=\"Gratitude Gift Cards\" alt=\"Gratitude Gift Cards\" src=\"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/GratitudeGiftCards11.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"189\" \/><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>The case for gratitude<\/h2>\n<p>My last post on the <a title=\"Generosity: The individual-driven, unlegislated happiness pill for the workplace\" href=\"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/index.php\/2012\/04\/generosity-the-individual-driven-unlegislated-happiness-pill-for-the-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\">benefits of generosity<\/a>\u00a0got me thinking about what it takes to maintain a generous perspective. I was discussing my thoughts on generosity with a project manager, who responded &#8220;<em>Yes, Chad, but what if we feel we do not have any more to give?<\/em>&#8221;\u00a0 Business and science indicate that a response may be &#8220;<em>When you have done all else, give thanks<\/em>&#8220;.<\/p>\n<p>What does it mean to be grateful? <a title=\"Grateful Feminist Hulk\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/#!\/feministhulk\/statuses\/60110480836009985\" target=\"_blank\">Gratitude<\/a>\u00a0has been described as a positive emotion felt towards others rather than self.\u00a0 Another description I read was <a title=\"Beastie Boys - Gratitude\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZdJ5e70Q8mw\" target=\"_blank\">gratitude<\/a>\u00a0is felt when one\u2019s needs are met and yet the help does not feel imposed.<\/p>\n<p>The case for being thankful is compelling.\u00a0 If you want to be a success, improve your business, and improve your overall well being, then be grateful.\u00a0 More than some feel-good theory, the business world reinforces the concept on sites like <a title=\"An attitude of gratitude\" href=\"http:\/\/www.smartcompany.com.au\/high-heeled-success\/an-attitude-of-gratitude.html\" target=\"_blank\">Smart Company<\/a>, <a title=\"Gratitude As A Business Strategy\" href=\"http:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/1796660\/gratitude-as-a-business-strategy\" target=\"_blank\">Fast Company<\/a>, <a title=\"Why gratitude is good for business, year round\" href=\"http:\/\/management.fortune.cnn.com\/2011\/11\/23\/why-gratitude-is-good-for-business-year-round\/\" target=\"_blank\">CNN Money<\/a>, <a title=\"Growing Your Business Through Practicing Gratitude\" href=\"http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/moneywisewomen\/2011\/11\/23\/growing-your-business-through-practicing-gratitude\/\" target=\"_blank\">Forbes<\/a>, and <a title=\"Increasing Productivity with Gratitude\" href=\"http:\/\/www.inc.com\/marla-tabaka\/2009\/09\/increasing_productivity_with_g.html\" target=\"_blank\">Inc<\/a>. \u00a0Adam Smith, an early free-market proponent, stressed that <a title=\"ADAM SMITH'S LOST LEGACY\" href=\"http:\/\/adamsmithslostlegacy.blogspot.com.au\/2005\/11\/gratitude-compatible-with-market.html\" target=\"_blank\">gratitude is essential to social life<\/a>\u00a0because it facilitates social transactions when there are not other legal or economic incentives to behave fairly.<\/p>\n<p>Want more of a case for gratitude?\u00a0 Here is what research tells us:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gratitude <a title=\"Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change\" href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/journals\/gpr\/9\/2\/111\/\" target=\"_blank\">helps you cope<\/a> with stressful situations<\/li>\n<li>Gratitude from a leader results in <a title=\"A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way: Explaining Why Gratitude Expressions Motivate Prosocial Behavior\" href=\"http:\/\/www.management.wharton.upenn.edu\/grant\/GrantGino_JPSP2010.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">followers helping<\/a> repeatedly and with greater intensity<\/li>\n<li>The less that people take help for granted, the <a title=\"Thanks, but I'm used to better: a relative rank model of gratitude\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/21401237\" target=\"_blank\">more grateful<\/a> they will be<\/li>\n<li>When you express gratitude in a relationship, each party is <a title=\"Expressing gratitude to a partner leads to more relationship maintenance behavior\" href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&amp;id=2011-04698-005\" target=\"_blank\">more likely to feel comfortable<\/a> in voicing concerns<\/li>\n<li>After a disaster, <a title=\"Expressions of Gratitude in Disaster Management: An Economic, Social Marketing, and Public Policy Perspective on Post-Katrina Campaigns   Read More: http:\/\/www.journals.marketingpower.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1509\/jppm.30.2.168\" href=\"http:\/\/www.journals.marketingpower.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1509\/jppm.30.2.168\" target=\"_blank\">government expressions of gratitude<\/a> are more likely to encourage consumer spending and continued donations in the affected area<\/li>\n<li>Gratitude results in <a title=\"The Role of Customer Gratitude in Relationship Marketing\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marketingpower.com\/AboutAMA\/Pages\/AMA%20Publications\/AMA%20Journals\/Journal%20of%20Marketing\/TOCs\/SUM_2009.5\/Role_Customer_Gratitude.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">higher seller performance<\/a> than commitment, meaning being thankful may win customers otherwise committed to another brand<\/li>\n<li>Expressing gratitude <a title=\"Appreciating gratitude : Can gratitude be improve individual well-being?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mendeley.com\/research\/appreciating-gratitude-gratitude-used-psychological-intervention-improve-individual-wellbeing\/\" target=\"_blank\">improves your well being<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Gratitude and the Reduced Costs of Materialism in Adolescents\" href=\"http:\/\/people.hofstra.edu\/jeffrey_j_froh\/spring%202010%20web\/10.1007_s10902-010-9195-9[1].pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Grateful youth<\/a> have higher grade point average, life satisfaction, social integration, and absorption, as well as lower envy and depression when compared to materialistic youth<\/li>\n<li>Gratitude <a title=\"Beyond reciprocity: gratitude and relationships in everyday life\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/18540759\" target=\"_blank\">helps build stronger relationships<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gratitude <a title=\"Gratitude as moral sentiment: Emotion-guided cooperation in economic exchange\" href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&amp;id=2010-06281-016\" target=\"_blank\">fosters cooperative rather than selfish responses<\/a> in the other party of an economic transaction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The benefits of gratitude are for everyone, not just special groups like non-profits or religion.\u00a0 Indeed, while <a title=\"Can prayer increase gratitude?\" href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&amp;id=2009-12471-001\" target=\"_blank\">people who pray consistently tend to be more grateful<\/a>, religion itself is associated with expressions of gratitude but <a title=\"An experimental test of the relationship between religion and gratitude\" href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&amp;id=2011-21625-001\" target=\"_blank\">not necessarily actions of gratitude<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A note of caution: you must be unselfish in your approach to gratitude.\u00a0 If you are too focused on yourself, research shows that <a title=\"Looking at me, appreciating you: Self-focused attention distinguishes between gratitude and indebtedness\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/02699930802650796#preview\" target=\"_blank\">gratitude is replaced by indebtedness<\/a>\u00a0and you will not feel as committed or close to your benefactor.<\/p>\n<p>Perceptions of your benefactor are also important.\u00a0 Your level of gratitude is dependent upon whether you perceive your benefactor as being intrinsically motivated or <a title=\"Attributing autonomous versus introjected motivation to helpers and the recipient experience: Effects on gratitude, attitudes, and well-being\" href=\"http:\/\/www.springerlink.com\/content\/kgm55l3n804mm338\/\" target=\"_blank\">in it for external gain<\/a>.\u00a0 Judge your giver too harshly, and you may be the one who suffers with overall lower levels of gratitude.<\/p>\n<h2>A call to give thanks<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1368\" title=\"Feminist Hulk expresses gratitude\" alt=\"Feminist Hulk expresses gratitude\" src=\"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/FeministHulkGratitude1.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"142\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I started exploring gratitude for a couple of reasons.\u00a0 First, I see a level of gratitude and respect in my company that I want to encourage and intentionally embed as a core principle.\u00a0 Reading through the research made me aware of how often gratitude is expressed in the studio and the resulting increase I see in generosity of others.<\/p>\n<p>The second and less attractive reason is that through my career I have witnessed a lack of gratitude in the commercial world around me.\u00a0 I observe groups giving above and beyond while receiving entities with greater perceived power selfishly take and demand more.\u00a0 Criticism and selfishness is expressed much more readily than \u201c<em>thank you<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0 I am conscious that I cannot change others, but with awareness I can hope to not behave like them and catch myself when I do.<\/p>\n<p>Gratitude takes practice and may require a shift in your approach.\u00a0 Like generosity, research shows that the benefits of being grateful are significant.\u00a0 A simple exercise is to daily and intentionally tell yourself what you are thankful for; &#8220;count your blessings&#8221; as the saying goes.<\/p>\n<p>In every situation, I am aware I can be critical of what I do not have or grateful for what I do have.\u00a0 The latter appears to be the option if I want to make the most of my remaining experiences on this spinning ball.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for reading.\u00a0 I appreciate your time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gratitude is good for business and good for your well being, or so says the collection of studies below. \u00a0You can thank me later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[185],"tags":[14,63,201,99,107],"ecosystem_role":[],"class_list":["post-1365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-about-you","tag-adam-smith","tag-gratitude","tag-leadership","tag-personal-development","tag-power","bwp-masonry-item","bwp-col-3"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1365"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5367,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1365\/revisions\/5367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1365"},{"taxonomy":"ecosystem_role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sidewaysthoughts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ecosystem_role?post=1365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}