"It's that time of year. The holiday season is filled with constant reminders to be more grateful and count your blessings. This rise in gratitude is the result of extensive research in the field of positive psychology touting its benefits on emotional well-being, sleep quality, interpersonal relationships, and overall health (1-4). Considering these benefits, you might be eager to encourage loved ones to practice more gratitude as a way to better cope with life's challenges."
"Before telling loved ones to be more grateful, recognize that things are not as simple as they appear. Any trait, when cultivated to the extreme or at the expense of other traits, comes with drawbacks. As an example, courage is a trait that society holds in high regard. However, even this trait is most beneficial when integrated with sound judgment. Without a healthy assessment of risk, courage devolves into reckless behavior."
Gratitude is often promoted for benefits including improved emotional well-being, sleep quality, interpersonal relationships, and overall health. Gratitude does not come naturally for most people and is a complex emotional process. Cultivating any trait excessively or without balance can produce drawbacks. Encouraging gratitude without acknowledging someone's pain can become toxic positivity that invalidates emotions, provokes shame, and functions as a form of gaslighting. Examples show that traits like courage require judgment to avoid recklessness. Holding space for emotions requires separating feelings from facts and resisting urges to minimize others' emotional experiences.
Read at Psychology Today
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