Conclusion

Abstract

My argument is that the virtue of gratitude is liberating for individuals both as moral agents and as members of professions. The empirical evidence from positive psychologists supports the view that the virtue of gratitude increases subjective well-being and prosocial behavior (McCullough et al., 2001, pp. 249–66). A grateful person has the confidence to be curious about the world, to become more response-able, and potentially, therefore, to become more responsible. He or she takes up the conversation of the generations in order to endow the future with a legacy characterized by gratitude and the desire to understand, to act justly, and to be compassionate. To offer and accept the gift of service transforms the giver, the gift, and the recipient. It is of the essence of the pattern of human maturation that we learn to give appropriate attention to the many aspects of our experience, to bring them together, to share what we know, and to enjoy the inherent beauty of our world. An appreciation of the virtue of gratitude can reform a vocation and transform the personal relationships that underpin the experience of professional practice for both the professional and the client.