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Inspiration

12 Quotes That Beautifully Show What Gratitude Means

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It’s easy to say you’re grateful, but do you ever really think about what gratitude means? If a clear gratitude definition doesn’t pop into your mind instantly, that’s OK. It can be pretty hard to put this dynamic topic into words. Here, we not only define gratitude, but also share our favorite gratitude quotes as a happy reminder of all the wonderful things you have to be thankful for in life.

What Gratitude Means

The practical definition of gratitude, according to the journal Psychiatry, is “the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself; it is a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation.” Seems simple enough on the surface, right? But even this scientific journal included an important note that the word “gratitude” can have a variety of different meanings, depending on the context. So you know it has to be much deeper and more complex than that. 

Gratitude also helps people acknowledge the good in their lives and realize that at least some of this goodness is outside of themselves, explains Harvard Health Publishing. Is it any wonder that people who practice gratitude feel inspired to connect with something larger than themselves, like other people, nature, or a higher power?

Gratitude and Happiness

Science has shown that gratitude can be good for you, too, as studies have suggested that gratitude and happiness are linked. For instance, a University of Pennsylvania study showed that when 411 people wrote a letter of gratitude, they immediately exhibited much higher happiness scores. Even better — the benefits of happiness lasted for months! 

That’s why we dug for these amazing gratitude quotes that put our thoughts into words about one of the most complicated, yet beautiful, feelings in the world. Keep scrolling to see gratitude quotes to help you express what gratitude means and inspire you to speak more gratitude in your everyday life. 

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