Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
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Did you know that being thankful for simple things can make you feel happier? In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.
Author A.J. Jacobs took this to the next level for his book ‘Thanks A Thousand’, in which he documents his journey to thanking every single person involved in producing his morning cup of coffee.
And it got me thinking: when do I even pause to see the beauty in the mundane, and express gratitude for it? The towel in the shower, the chair I’m sitting on?
It’s so easy to take those things for granted and focus instead on what we feel is lacking.
But, as the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast pointed out, happiness does not lead to gratitude. It’s the other way around: gratitude leads to happiness.
So how do you practice gratitude? How can you show your appreciation for everyday mundane things more often? That’s what I discuss in this video.
Enjoy!
Resources mentioned in video:
• A.J. Jacobs - Thanks a Thousand: amazon.com/Thanks-Thousand-Gratitude-Journey-Books/dp/1501119923
• David Steindl-Rast - Want to be happy? Be grateful (TED Talk): ted.com/talks/david_steindl_rast_want_to_be_happy_be_grateful
• Giving thanks can make you happier: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
– LINKS –
📚 Interesting books to read:
• Stoicism For Beginners: https://a.co/d/hPU8GTX
• Minimalism 101: https://a.co/d/bJkA6Lt
• Declutter Your Life: https://a.co/d/carqttB
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
• 📝 Sign up for my newsletter: petercook.myflodesk.com/newsletter
• ☕️ Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/petercook
Did you know that being thankful for simple things can make you feel happier? In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.
Author A.J. Jacobs took this to the next level for his book ‘Thanks A Thousand’, in which he documents his journey to thanking every single person involved in producing his morning cup of coffee.
And it got me thinking: when do I even pause to see the beauty in the mundane, and express gratitude for it? The towel in the shower, the chair I’m sitting on?
It’s so easy to take those things for granted and focus instead on what we feel is lacking.
But, as the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast pointed out, happiness does not lead to gratitude. It’s the other way around: gratitude leads to happiness.
So how do you practice gratitude? How can you show your appreciation for everyday mundane things more often? That’s what I discuss in this video.
Enjoy!
Resources mentioned in video:
• A.J. Jacobs - Thanks a Thousand: amazon.com/Thanks-Thousand-Gratitude-Journey-Books/dp/1501119923
• David Steindl-Rast - Want to be happy? Be grateful (TED Talk): ted.com/talks/david_steindl_rast_want_to_be_happy_be_grateful
• Giving thanks can make you happier: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
– LINKS –
📚 Interesting books to read:
• Stoicism For Beginners: https://a.co/d/hPU8GTX
• Minimalism 101: https://a.co/d/bJkA6Lt
• Declutter Your Life: https://a.co/d/carqttB
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
