The next few blogs will take extracts from the recent talk on Gratitude. 

Gratitude can be equated with well being, happiness, joy, equanimity, ecstasy (quiet or overt.)

Gratitude is spiritual practice.  Positive psychology and neuroscience are now confirming its attributes and are coming into alignment with the teachings of ancient wisdom.

Seligman summarizes his work in the acronym PERMA which stands for...

If we add some ancient wisdom and Carol Ryff's teachings which have a more spiritual bias and include virtue we come up with...

Environmental mastery here has to do with the "place" where we live. We should add nature to that and what wilderness psychologists have called the "accessible green." There is abundant research to show that exposure to nature causes equanimity and hence gratitude.

Meaning or purpose in life are key and are most associated with doing things for others or the planet rather than oneself. Buddhism also teaches that this is the road to true happiness and Albert Schweitzer said; "I do not know what your destiny will be but I do know that the only ones among you who will be truly happy will be those who have found and sought how to serve."

Seligman the father of positive psychology stresses that accomplishment (fame, material wealth) are ok but should not be pursued if meaningless. Ryff seems to favor autonomy over accomplishment.

In next week's blog we will focus on what neuroscience has to offer in its research on Gratitude (ROBERT EVANS and MICHAEL McCULLOUGH)