A Few Thoughts on Gratitude

Back in 2011, the Deseret News published an article on gratitude which included some interesting findings – here’s a couple of paragraphs:

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals.

According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCullough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.

The entire article is here.

Following are a few more thoughts on gratitude you might enjoy in no particular order:

Alma 7:23:  And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

President Ezra Taft Benson: Pride is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.  Source: “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 5.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: If we only look around us, there are a thousand reasons for us not to be happy, and it is simplicity itself to blame our unhappiness on the things we lack in life. It doesn’t take any talent at all to find them. The problem is, the more we focus on the things we don’t have, the more unhappy and more resentful we become….Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable…. Source: Ensign, September 2001, 6.

President Thomas S. Monson:  If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Source: Ensign, May 1992, 54.

Everyone can be discontented if they ignore their blessings and look only at their burdens. Source: Favorite Quotations from the Collection of Thomas S. Monson, 142.

Melodie Beattie: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  Source: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/67563-gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life-it-turns-what-we

Elder Merrill J. Bateman:  Luke describes Jesus meeting ten lepers. Upon seeing the Savior, they cried, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus responded: “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” As they went their way, they were cleansed. One returned, fell on his face at the Master’s feet, and gave thanks. Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” And then the Lord said to the one who returned, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (see Luke 17:12–19). In becoming a whole person, the grateful leper was healed inside as well as on the outside. That day nine lepers were healed skin deep, but only one had the faith to be made whole.  Source: April 1995 General Conference, see: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/the-power-to-heal-from-within?lang=eng