We were very fortunate to be able to celebrate our annual Harvest Service in the Cathedral today. It is difficult not to be overcome with awe each time one steps into that amazing building. I can never resist the temptation to look up at those ancient vaulted ceilings and admire the incredible craftsmanship and commitment to excellence that went into creating such a beautiful space. It is fitting that we were able to stand in a place that has existed for almost a thousand years, knowing that countless others have sought solace and expressed their most profound joys and sorrows right there. The weight of it all hangs in the air; and it is right that it is in that place that we expressed our gratitude for all that we have received.

Gratitude is a powerful emotion that has many benefits for the person experiencing it. It can transform our thinking and our way of being, and cause us to lead much more fulfilling and happy lives.

A lot of research has been conducted into the benefits of practicing gratitude. Emmons and McCullough (2003) state that ‘a person is likely to feel grateful if they perceive that they have a positive personal outcome that they have either not earned, or are deserving of, as a result of the actions of another person’. One can feel grateful for any number of things: an unexpected gift, for family, one’s good health or for things going right as a result of hard work and effort. If cultivated on a regular basis it can have a very positive effect on the way in which we view the world. If gratitude becomes a behaviour that is exercised intentionally, it can lead to what Wood et al. (2010) refer to as ‘eudaimonic wellbeing’, which is a ‘sense that one’s life has meaning, and that a person is living their life to the fullest’.

Watkins, Woodward, Stone and Kolts (2003) suggest that individuals who exhibit gratitude will exhibit the following traits:

• They do not feel deprived in life;
• They appreciate others’ contributions to their well-being;
• They tend to appreciate simple pleasures (in other words, pleasurable things that are freely available to the majority of people): if an individual appreciates simple pleasures, they are likely to experience grateful feelings more often due to frequently being appreciative of commonly occurring experiences;
• Finally, grateful individuals acknowledge the important role of experiencing and expressing gratitude.

There is mounting evidence to suggest that people who are able to be grateful for the small things in life, and who habitually exhibit a life-orientation towards gratitude, will also reap the fruit of this in other areas of their lives. It is posited that our relationships will improve as a result of being grateful. Those who exhibit gratitude are often quicker to forgive than those who do not, and ‘it seems to strengthen relationships and contribute to relationship connection and satisfaction’ (Wood et al., 2010). Preliminary research also suggests that our overall health may improve over time as we practice gratitude. However, a lot more research still needs to be done in this area. There is some evidence to suggest that the feeling of gratitude may also improve our ability to sleep well at night, but this is also a fairly new area of research.

Wood et al. (2010) have also conducted research into post-traumatic growth (as opposed to post-traumatic stress). ‘Post traumatic growth refers to an interesting phenomenon whereby some people, in addition to the intense suffering they experience, may gain some benefit from overcoming trauma’. Those who experience more gratitude report that they experience life in general more positively and that they feel more fulfilled on a daily basis. Many ascribe feelings of appreciation for family and close friends and intentionally appreciating each day more as being important in promoting these feelings.

It is important for our children to be part of communal expressions of gratitude, as they were today, and to understand that our good fortune should never be taken for granted. Taking a moment each day to remember one or two things for which we are grateful may help us all to navigate the unknown more effectively and healthily.

Craig Cuyler
Director of Wellbeing/Head of PSHEe/
Deputy DSL/ Assistant Housemaster