True gratitude is a communal emotion, not a wellness practice | Psyche Ideas

Positive psychologists have credited gratitude (both personal and interpersonal) with:

1. Improving our emotional wellbeing.
2. Promoting prosocial behaviour.
3. Helping us regulate our emotions.
4. Relieving symptoms of asthma.

• In 56 CE, the Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote a comprehensive book on gratitude, called On Benefits.
• The gifted philosopher treats the feeling of gratitude as a virtue that one needs to cultivate and implement socially.
• In his book, gratitude is defined as a glue that holds society together and makes it thrive.
• More than just acting out and reciprocating the benefits received, it is crucial to actually feel the gratitude from within.

• A gift has certain psychological aspects attached to it, making it more than just a simple transaction.
• A gift binds the recipient to the giver, and is seen as a burden. The word ‘grateful’ can also be translated in the Hebrew language to ‘A prisoner of thankfulness’.
• A gift can also have a flavour of humiliation, like when a captive person or a hostage is provided with a cup of tea.