Sometimes we need a little push to appreciate what we have, even though we know doing so is a science-backed strategy to increase happiness—that’s why quotes about gratitude can be so helpful. And let’s be honest, the experts who research this stuff are the best people to go to for inspiration. So that’s exactly what we did. Below are the best gratitude quotes we could find to remind you to be thankful for the good in your life. And there’s plenty of it once you start paying attention.
9 Quotes about Gratitude to Remind You to Be Thankful
Here are nine quotes about gratitude we revisit when we need a reminder to appreciate the positive around us. They’re from some of our favorite researchers, experts, and philosophers so you won’t find any fluff here. But don’t take our word for it—take theirs.
On what gratitude gives
“One key piece of gratitude is that it basically has the potential to change everything from its ordinary state to being a gift. Once you see it as a gift, it changes the emotional connection to it.”
—Barbara Frederickson, PhD, in Thank You: Power Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You
“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. …Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
—Melody Beattie, self-improvement author, in this post on gratitude
On happiness and gratitude
“Gratitude always comes into play; research shows that people are happier if they are grateful for the positive things in their lives, rather than worrying about what might be missing.”
—Dan Buettner, journalist, and author of Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
“The expression of gratitude is a kind of metastrategy for achieving happiness. …It is wonder; it is appreciation; it is looking at the bright side of a setback; it is fathoming abundance; it is thanking someone in your life; it is thanking God; it is ‘counting blessings.’ It is savoring; it is not taking things for granted; it is coping; it is present-oriented.”
—Sonja Lyubomirksy, PhD and author, in The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want
On making gratitude a habit
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet and philosopher
On how gratitude makes life better
“Once you start making the effort to ‘wake yourself up’—that is, be more mindful in your activities—you suddenly start appreciating life a lot more.”
—Robert Biswas-Diener, Positive Psychologist, author, and instructor at Portland State University, in an interview with Gretchen Rubin
We hope the above quotes about gratitude reminded you to habitually and relentlessly appreciate what you have. Remember to express that appreciation too—out loud or in writing. You’ll feel a little lighter and a lot more satisfied with your life right now. And that, readers, is what happiness is all about.
Your turn: Do you have favorite quotes about gratitude that didn’t make the list? Share them in the comments.
If you like this article you’ll also like 10 Ways to Express Gratitude to the People You Love
Author: Heather Burdo
Heather is a freelance writer from New York. She enjoys all things related to motivation and mindset. (You can usually find her binge-watching inspirational videos on YouTube.) All work aside, she enjoys activities outdoors and being with her family.
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