Gratitude and Mental Health: DW

Universities are increasingly offering classes in gratitude, happiness and mindfulness to counter a constant focus on what’s wrong with the world or people’s lives. Searching out and recognizing the good aspects of one’s life and surroundings is a start to gratitude, and “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions," suggests psychologist Dirk Lehr who teaches at Leuphana University in Germany. This article for Deutsche Welle touches on Lehr’s work and points out how people tend to take safety, good health, support networks, small comforts and basics for granted, appreciating them only after they go missing. “Perhaps this is the crux of gratitude: it comes more easily to those who learn, or are forced, to pay attention to the details,” writes Julia Vergin. “The good news is, Lehr says a change of perspective and the ability to learn to appreciate beautiful moments is a conscious decision that everyone can make. But this conscious decision must be practiced, practiced, practiced.” – YaleGlobal