"You should be grateful for what you have; there are many people who have it much worse."
"You should be grateful for this opportunity; not everyone gets such a chance."
"You should be grateful for your job; many people are unemployed."
Have you ever heard the sentence: “You should be grateful” and felt guilt and resentment crawling up your skin? While well-intentioned, these words often come across as dismissive and judgmental. What may seem like a minor issue to one person can be a significant struggle for another. Being told that you should be grateful can make you feel as if your emotions and experiences are not valid, which can lead to frustration.
Furthermore, this phrase can create an unnecessary burden, leaving people feeling obligated to express gratitude for things they may not genuinely appreciate. This insincerity can lead to emotional conflict and conflict in relationships. Although numerous studies have shown that maintaining a gratitude journal can improve one's mental health, there's a catch – it must feel authentic. Otherwise, it becomes more of a troublesome checklist.
Do you want to learn more about gratitude?
📼 "How gratitude rewires your brain" by Christina Costa.
✏️ Get my free worksheet about gratitude
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