The Psychology of Wonder and Gratitude

This article is for general information only and not a substitute for professional psychological care.

People can think wellbeing comes from fixing what’s wrong. But psychological research suggests that deliberately noticing what’s working can meaningfully support mental health. Studies in positive psychology have found that practices like gratitude are associated with improved mood and increased life satisfaction (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). Appreciation doesn’t deny difficulty — it broadens attention so that challenges aren’t the only thing in view.

In clinical work, I often encourage people to experiment with moments of quiet noticing: the warmth of sunlight, a thoughtful message, the steadiness of a routine. Wonder isn’t about forced positivity; it’s about training attention. When we pause to register something ordinary but meaningful, the nervous system often softens, even briefly.

Gratitude is less a personality trait and more a practice. It can be as simple as asking, “What did I overlook today that deserves a second glance?” Small moments of appreciation, repeated consistently, tend to accumulate — and over time, they can subtly shift the tone of our inner world.

Reference
Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389.