Gratitude is deeply personal. The experience and felt emotion comes from within. One may find their gratitude when receiving help, assistance, kindness from others, in appreciation for recognition, when you feel pleased, experience a positive emotion, develop strong relationships with family members, friends, or other people in your community, improve your health or life circumstances, give to others, or through spiritual study. Your pathway to gratitude may follow one or more of a variety of events throughout your life.
Robert Emmons describes two parts of gratitude:
- An Affirmation of goodness in the world, gifts, and benefits;
- The sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves, and such helps us achieve goodness in our life.
Gratitude Squared 