That is not Gratitude
Gratitude comes from the Latin word gratia, or "grace". It was poetically defined by Jean-Baptiste Massieu as "the memory of the heart". Gratitude has been a common theme in the personal development space and one that is often unpacked poorly. Many mistake gratitude for things like being appreciative or a sense of indebtedness, which both are inaccurate thoughts on gratitude. Before we can talk about gratitude, let’s dismantle misconceptions about it.
Gratitude is not appreciation.
Appreciation is simply the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. Appreciation lacks the dimension of awe, reverence, and humility that is at the heart of gratitude.
Gratitude is also not the same thing as indebtedness.
Unlike gratitude, indebtedness is riddled with obligation. Obligation to recompense or return a favour. This sense of obligation can quickly lead to resentment. As Seneca says, "In the case of certain men, the more they owe, the more they hate. A trifling debt makes a man your debtor; a large one makes him an enemy."
Gratitude brings us both an emotional and perspective shift. It allows us to find our oneness with others and connectedness with a greater source. Gratitude is cradled by a sense of awe. When we feel awe, we tap into another sense of happiness. One rooted in humility and respect for something greater than you. When we respond with gratitude, our feelings are moved. If our feelings aren’t moved, then we tend to respond not with gratitude but with appreciation.