Gratitude and Flourishing | Seminar

This seminar presents an evidence-informed, reflective introduction to the VIA character strength of gratitude within a university context. Gratitude is framed as a dispositional tendency to recognize and emotionally respond to the benevolence of others in contributing to positive experiences and outcomes. Drawing on established psychological research, the seminar explores the definition, core facets (intensity, frequency, span, and density), and empirically supported benefits of gratitude, including enhanced well-being, stronger relationships, improved physical health, increased resilience, and greater prosocial behaviour. Participants are guided to examine gratitude across a continuum of underuse, optimal use, and overuse, highlighting both its protective role and the potential risks of emotional suppression when gratitude is applied unreflectively. Through affirmations, reflective prompts, applied examples, and structured practices, the seminar supports students in integrating gratitude into academic life while maintaining emotional awareness and perspective under pressure. The programme concludes with practical application through daily routines and a WOOP-based action framework, enabling participants to intentionally cultivate gratitude in ways that support learning, motivation, resilience, and flourishing in higher education. Learning Outcomes By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to: Define gratitude as a dispositional character strength, grounded in psychological research, and distinguish it from surface positivity or emotional avoidance. Explain the key facets of gratitude (intensity, frequency, span, and density) and how these shape everyday experiences of appreciation and recognition. Identify the psychological, relational, and physical benefits of gratitude, particularly within the demands and pressures of university life. Differentiate between underuse, optimal use, and overuse of gratitude, recognizing how each can influence emotional well-being, relationships, and problem-solving. Apply gratitude in academic and social contexts, including learning, teamwork, feedback, and engagement with peers, staff, family, and support networks. Demonstrate reflective awareness of personal gratitude patterns through guided questions, affirmations, and experiential exercises. Integrate gratitude into daily routines, using structured practices that support motivation, resilience, and sustained well-being. Develop a personalized gratitude action plan using the WOOP framework, identifying wishes, outcomes, obstacles, and concrete strategies for consistent practice.