We're so happy you're here. 

The Gratitude Project is a student-led initiative at the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Education. The goal of this project is to support educators around the world to engage in gratitude and implement gratitude-based learning in their classrooms. 

So, what is gratitude? 

According to the Oxford Dictionary, gratitude is "the quality or condition of being thankful".  From a psychological perspective, gratitude is the positive recognition of material or non-material benefits received from another person or source (Emmons & McCullough, 2004).  In many cultures, gratitude is a quality that is deemed essential for living life well (Emmons & McCullough, 2004). 

Why is gratitude important? 

Many people believe they are undeserving of receiving benefits and look for ways to repay the kindness (Emmons & McCullough, 2004). These feelings encourage positive relationships through reciprocal acts of kindness, but also encourage us to act in positive ways in all of our social interactions (Emmons & McCullough, 2004). Gratitude also supports psychological and physical health and well-being, improves self-esteem, and increases empathy (Emmons & McCullough, 2004). In the busy nature of life, gratitude is a beneficial way to slow down and appreciate the good in our lives.