Thinking about thankfulness and gratitude, the theme of the Gospel tomorrow, where Jesus cures the ten lepers and only one returns to thank him, I remembered reading an article recently about how gratitude adds value to life.
However, even at the end of the article, I still did not see what different or 'scientific' was the whole argument about. It was like stating what we already know - or is it? The article (found on Aeon) basically argued for gratitude to be the simplest way to lead a life of well-being, primarily also because gratitude leads one to grow in other virtues.
I think there is basically - more in India than here in the West - a sense of entitlement. That one is entitled to what one receives; and for what one is entitled to one need not go about being grateful to others, certainly not to the ones 'below' us! And for those we pay, they are not doing us a favour. They are getting paid for it, so why 'thank' them? But the whole notion of gratitude is not about justice or balance. It is not as if to set right the equation, that one thanks. Basically gratitude is an attitude, not a means we use to level off trade or equations. And the best thing about gratitude: there are no adverse side-effects, only further advantages!
Cicero did have a point when he stated:
However, even at the end of the article, I still did not see what different or 'scientific' was the whole argument about. It was like stating what we already know - or is it? The article (found on Aeon) basically argued for gratitude to be the simplest way to lead a life of well-being, primarily also because gratitude leads one to grow in other virtues.
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| NJlifehacks |
I think there is basically - more in India than here in the West - a sense of entitlement. That one is entitled to what one receives; and for what one is entitled to one need not go about being grateful to others, certainly not to the ones 'below' us! And for those we pay, they are not doing us a favour. They are getting paid for it, so why 'thank' them? But the whole notion of gratitude is not about justice or balance. It is not as if to set right the equation, that one thanks. Basically gratitude is an attitude, not a means we use to level off trade or equations. And the best thing about gratitude: there are no adverse side-effects, only further advantages!
Cicero did have a point when he stated:
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, it is the parent of all others.
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