top of page
Search

Gratitude: A Sense of Thankfulness and Happiness, as One Remains Grateful

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • 4 days ago
  • 5 min read

 

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

 

Consider that Seneca stated, “In all things we should try to make ourselves be as grateful as possible. For gratitude is a good thing for ourselves, in a manner in which justice, commonly held to belong to others, is not. Gratitude pays itself back in large measure” (page 391).

 

Here, the ancient Stoic philosopher made use of what in REBT is known as a recommendatory should statement. Specifically, he recommended that people should be grateful (appreciative of benefits received; expressing gratitude). This is a topic about which I’ve written in my blog.

 

For clarity, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines gratitude as “a sense of thankfulness and happiness in response to receiving a gift, either a tangible benefit (e.g., a present, favor) given by someone or a fortunate happenstance (e.g., a beautiful day).”

 

For context, the APA defines this use of the term sense as “a particular awareness of a physical dimension or property (e.g., time, space) or of an abstract quality, usually one that is desirable (e.g., humor, justice);” as an example, a sense of thankfulness (conscious of benefit received).

 

Additionally, the APA defines happiness as “an emotion of joy, gladness, satisfaction, and well-being.” Given this added information, Seneca proposed that people preferably should apply gratitude, using a sense of thankfulness and happiness, as one remains grateful.

 

As an example, on hip hop lyricist duo Sekkond Hand’s album Sekkond Era (2019) is the song “Sekkond That”, on which it’s stated, “We got an attitude for gratitude.” Some individuals believe that one’s “attitude” relates to temperament, which it doesn’t.

 

Rather, the APA defines attitude as “a relatively enduring and general evaluation of an object, person, group, issue, or concept on a dimension ranging from negative to positive.” Thus, Sekkond Hand presumably advocated a positive evaluation of one’s view of gratitude.

 

This healthy perspective aligns with Seneca’s advocacy for gratitude and gratefulness. Now, I invite you to consider applying gratitude, using a sense of thankfulness and happiness, as you may remain grateful for matters which contribute to a positive evaluation of your view on life.

 

In this way, gratitude isn’t about merely using a positive perspective. Instead, it regards the reasoned choice of assessing matters for which you remain grateful. As an example, I’m grateful that you’ve read this post. Even if you didn’t, and I’m talking to myself, I remain grateful.

 

After all, I’ve had the opportunity to practice Stoicism when drafting this blogpost. For that, I remain grateful. Now, can you – or better yet, will you – practice gratitude in your own life? This includes matters which aren’t necessarily positive (e.g., an ignored blogpost entry).

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW


Photo credit (edited), Designed by Magnific, fair use

 

References:

 

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Gratitude. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/gratitude

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Happiness. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/happiness

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Sense. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/sense

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Temperament. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/temperament

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2026, June 16). A fountain of goodness: Subjective and objective views. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-fountain-of-goodness-subjective-and-objective-views

Hollings, D. (2026, June 2). An honest person should be like a smelly goat. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/an-honest-person-should-be-like-a-smelly-goat

Hollings, D. (2026, February 12). Consciousness: Reach your soul. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consciousness-reach-your-soul

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2026, July 23). Endurance: Of course. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/endurance-of-course

Hollings, D. (2025, December 5). Evaluations and appraisals: Men are gross, trash, and pigs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/evaluations-and-appraisals-men-are-gross-trash-and-pigs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, August 5). Fear of happiness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fear-of-happiness

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2023, April 5). For what it’s worth, I’m grateful. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/for-what-it-s-worth-im-grateful

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2026, April 24). Gratitude: Awu wemadoda. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/gratitude-awu-wemadoda

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2026, February 8). Is It Desire, or Is It Love? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/is-it-desire-or-is-it-love

Hollings, D. (2022, August 31). Iss-me vs. iss-you. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/iss-me-vs-iss-you

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude

Hollings, D. (2024, July 20). Perspective shift. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/perspective-shift

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2026, August 21). Reasoned choice: What can you control? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/reasoned-choice-what-can-you-control

Hollings, D. (2024, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Recommendatory should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/recommendatory-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

Hollings, D. (2025, October 9). Self-awareness, self-examination, and self-determination. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-awareness-self-examination-and-self-determination

Hollings, D. (2025, December 24). Some people advocate walking. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/some-people-advocate-walking

Hollings, D. (2026, February 25). Stoic joy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoic-joy

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, October 22). The construct. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-construct

Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The distinction between law and justice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-distinction-between-law-and-justice

Hollings, D. (2025, November 6). The senses and self-defense. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-senses-and-self-defense

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, July 18). We decide whether to label something good or bad. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/ we-decide-whether-to-label-something-good-or-bad

Hollings, D. (2024, September 29). Well, well, well. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/well-well-well

Sekkond Hand – Topic. (2019, March 16). Sekkond That [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/O_dCS19b5IM?si=m_cs39yGrnwU5bkS

Spotify. (n.d.). Sekkond Era. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/album/2wHWzYbDC21BEP343FxzfY

Spotify. (n.d.). Sekkond Hand. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cFUo3ldylIJRLjCZUKSqr

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Hip-hop. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip-hop

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Seneca the Younger. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger

© 2024 by Hollings Therapy, LLC 

bottom of page