Key points

Gratitude has been linked to numerous positive effects on health and well-being.

However, sometimes the pressure to be grateful can turn from a gift into a demand.

Forcing gratitude can silence real needs and suppress healthy anger, among other negative consequences.

Every November, gratitude floods our inboxes, social feeds, and dinner tables. “Be grateful,” we’re told—sometimes with warmth, sometimes with a sharp edge. But what happens when gratitude becomes a social demand instead of a genuine feeling?

Admittedly, the advice to be grateful is often good—studies link gratitude to a broad range of positive effects on mental health, well-being, and more. For instance, market research reveals that businesses that prime their messaging with gratitude can move people away fr

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