--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The practice of gratitude is incompatible…" description: "\"The practice of gratitude is incompatible with negative emotions and may actually diminish or deter such feelings as anger, bitterness, and greed.\" — S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg" --- # The practice of gratitude is incompatible with negative… ![“The practice of gratitude is incompatible with negative emotions and may actually diminish or deter such feelings as anger, bitterness, and greed.” quote by Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg) > “The practice of gratitude is incompatible with negative emotions and may actually diminish or deter such feelings as anger, bitterness, and greed.” [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultivating gratitude can counteract negative emotions, potentially reducing feelings like anger, bitterness, and greed. **In simple terms:** Gratitude dampens negativity. Key Takeaway Gratitude mitigates negative feelings. Themes gratitude emotional regulation psychology well‑being Mood optimistic reflective Type psychological insight advice When to use this quote - daily journaling - team retrospectives - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive reframing affect regulation Practical Applications - keep a gratitude list - express thanks in conversations Questions to Reflect On - When does gratitude feel forced? - Can gratitude coexist with legitimate anger? A Different Perspective Gratitude may not fully eliminate deep‑seated resentment without additional work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Negative emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-emotions/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) ## Related quotes > [If you harbor hatred, anger, and bitterness (towards her), then you are absolutely locked into a bond through those negative emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-phil/if-you-harbor-hatred-anger-and-bitterness-towards-her-then-you-are/) [Dr Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-phil/) > [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Anger and bitterness are two noticeable signs of being focused on self and not trusting God's sovereignty in your life. When you believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-broger/anger-and-bitterness-are-two-noticeable-signs-of-being-focused-on/) [John C. Broger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-broger/) > [They promised me that this would be my home. That girls like you would always be my sisters. But they weren't my sisters, were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/they-promised-me-that-this-would-be-my-home-that-girls-like-you-would/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Anger is not bitterness. Bitterness can go on eating at a man's heart and mind forever. Anger spends itself in its own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/anger-is-not-bitterness-bitterness-can-go-on-eating-at-a-man-s-heart/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [When I first got into the studio once again, and I started hearing the beats, the anger and bitterness was coming out of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-sunshine/when-i-first-got-into-the-studio-once-again-and-i-started-hearing-the/) [Tony Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-sunshine/) > [The more we hold on to our hurts, anger and bitterness, the more we become slaves to unforgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/the-more-we-hold-on-to-our-hurts-anger-and-bitterness-the-more-we/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [In other words, it was a struggle with himself. And the product of that struggle: anger, bitterness, resentment, envy or transformation, aspiration, hope, decency..the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/in-other-words-it-was-a-struggle-with-himself-and-the-product-of-that/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [“Bitterness \* Broken men Walk away from broken sons Who stab them in the gut In anger And bitterness For crimes they are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/bitterness-broken-men-walk-away-from-broken-sons-who-stab-them-in-the/) [rassool jibraeel snyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/) > [Acrid bitterness inevitably seeps into the lives of people who harbor grudges and suppress anger, and bitterness is always a poison. It keeps your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/acrid-bitterness-inevitably-seeps-into-the-lives-of-people-who-harbor/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [The person you're mad at might moved on and they're not thinking about you. So you're anger and bitterness is not hurting them ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/the-person-you-re-mad-at-might-moved-on-and-they-re-not-thinking/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“Holding on to weight (i.e. anger, bitterness, the past, hatred) will not only hold you back, but also block your blessings. You've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-pierre/holding-on-to-weight-i-e-anger-bitterness-the-past-hatred-will-not/) [Yvonne Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-pierre/) > [Anger or bitterness toward those who have hurt you will block your path to higher ground. You can have anger toward people or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/anger-or-bitterness-toward-those-who-have-hurt-you-will-block-your/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [I wished I died in that attack with my cousin, with my south Vietnamese soldiers. I wish I died at that time so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-wished-i-died-in-that-attack-with-my-cousin-with-my-south/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [“Anger and bitterness are normal feelings, but they’re like cancer if you can’t control them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/anger-and-bitterness-are-normal-feelings-but-they-re-like-cancer-if/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) ## More by Sonja Lyubomirsky > [I use the term happiness to refer to the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/i-use-the-term-happiness-to-refer-to-the-experience-of-joy/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [It is equally important to investigate wellness as it is to study misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/it-is-equally-important-to-investigate-wellness-as-it-is-to-study/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [It turns out that the process of working toward a goal, participating in a valued and challenging activity, is as important to well-being as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/it-turns-out-that-the-process-of-working-toward-a-goal-participating/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [People prone to joyful anticipation, skilled at obtaining pleasure from looking forward and imagining future happy events, are especially likely to be optimistic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/people-prone-to-joyful-anticipation-skilled-at-obtaining-pleasure/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [Find a happy person, and you will find a project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/find-a-happy-person-and-you-will-find-a-project/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [Forgiving people are less likely to be hateful, depressed, hostile, anxious, angry, and neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/forgiving-people-are-less-likely-to-be-hateful-depressed-hostile/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [Happiness is not out there for us to find. The reason that it's not out there is that it's inside us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/happiness-is-not-out-there-for-us-to-find-the-reason-that-it-s-not/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [The combination of rumination and negative mood is toxic. Research shows that people who ruminate while sad or distraught are likely to feel besieged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/the-combination-of-rumination-and-negative-mood-is-toxic-research/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [In a nutshell, the fountain of happiness can be found in how you behave, what you think, and what goals you set every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/in-a-nutshell-the-fountain-of-happiness-can-be-found-in-how-you/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [If we observe genuinely happy people, we shall find that they do not just sit around being contented. They make things happen. They pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/if-we-observe-genuinely-happy-people-we-shall-find-that-they-do-not/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [“D. A., and Kahneman, D. (1998). Does living in California make people happy?: A focusing illusion in judgments of life satisfaction. Psychological Science, 9: 340–46.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/d-a-and-kahneman-d-1998-does-living-in-california-make-people-happy-a/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [I prefer to think of the creation or construction of happiness, because research shows that it's in our power to fashion it for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/i-prefer-to-think-of-the-creation-or-construction-of-happiness/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [...The more a person is inclined to gratitude, the less likely he or she is to be depressed, anxious, lonely, envious, or neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/the-more-a-person-is-inclined-to-gratitude-the-less-likely-he-or-she/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [“Approximately one-third of all homes in 1940 did not have running water, indoor toilets, or bathtub/showers, and more than half had no central heating.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/approximately-one-third-of-all-homes-in-1940-did-not-have-running/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) > [Thus the key to happiness lies not in changing our genetic makeup (which is impossible) and not in changing our circumstances (i.e., seeking wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/thus-the-key-to-happiness-lies-not-in-changing-our-genetic-makeup/) [Sonja Lyubomirsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) [Explore all 27 Sonja Lyubomirsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/) ## More Bitterness quotes > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/) [Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“What?" I ask. I try not to get snappy with her. She hasn't really done anything wrong. Falling in love with Turner isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/what-i-ask-i-try-not-to-get-snappy-with-her-she-hasn-t-really-done/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose’s scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose. —Francis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-fairest-things-have-fleetest-end-their-scent-survives-their-close/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [Forgiving someone who've done you wrong or didn't treat you right could mean that you are allowing yourself to end up away from bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-t-pascua/forgiving-someone-who-ve-done-you-wrong-or-didn-t-treat-you-right/) [April T Pascua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-t-pascua/) > [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) Richard Walters > [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rin-chupeco/sometimes-it-is-good-to-remind-ourselves-how-bitterness-tastes/) [Rin Chupeco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rin-chupeco/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Be sure there is something waiting for you after much patience, to astonish you to a degree, that you forget the bitterness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/be-sure-there-is-something-waiting-for-you-after-much-patience-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) [Browse all 1,210 Bitterness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The practice of gratitude is incompatible with negative emotions and may actually diminish or deter such feelings as anger, bitterness, and greed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonja Lyubomirsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatible-with-negative-emotions-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bitterness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatible-with-negative-emotions-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/sonja-lyubomirsky-22820_bitterness_the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatibl_73961.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The practice of gratitude is incompatible with negative emotions and may actually diminish or deter such…” — Sonja Lyubomirsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sonja Lyubomirsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-lyubomirsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The practice of gratitude is incompatible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatible-with-negative-emotions-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-lyubomirsky/the-practice-of-gratitude-is-incompatible-with-negative-emotions-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```