TALK #GRATITUDE by Irene GROJEAN

Irène's "mother" language is French and on a daily basis, she speaks gratitude fluently. She regularly sings, to the tune of the Hymn to Joy, chants of “thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” enthusiastic. We should not believe that she was necessarily born that way. Gratitude is not her “mother” language: it is through the trials of life that she learned to practice it assiduously.

What is gratitude?

Like gratuity, gratitude derives from the Latin term gracia, “grace”. It is a breach in the economy of exchange and equity, because it gives way to the unpredictable and the excess of the gift.

https://www.cairn.info/revue-etudes-2010-12-page-667.htm

According to Robert Emmons, American psychologist and author of the book “Thank You! When gratitude changes our lives“, to truly express gratitude, we must say “thank you” consciously and not hastily. Two conditions must exist:

First, the observation of the moment or the good for which we say thank you as well as the awareness of the effort required to obtain it.

Then, there is the recognition that this benefit comes from outside oneself.

Indeed, gratitude leads you to open yourself to others and opportunities instead of focusing on yourself. Through it, you will be able to direct your attention to what makes you happy and grateful instead of only seeing what you are missing. It is the transition between “To be happy, I want…” to “I am happy to have… or to be…”.

Irene, whatever happens, has developed this ability to say yes and thank you to life.

And you, what languages ​​do you speak?

SOURCES / GO FURTHER

https://www.planeted.eu/gratitude/