greatest potential to advance the science and practice of gratitude. Relationship to mental health A study of approximately 300 college students was conducted to determine the benefits of mental health counseling. Recruited participants were divided into three groups prior to their first counseling session. The first group was instructed to write one letter of gratitude a week for three weeks, the second group was asked to write about their negative experiences, and the third group received only counseling. When compared, the first group reported better mental health after completing their writing exercises. This finding suggests that gratitude writing may improve mental health. Although not conclusive, the study suggests that practicing gratitude may help the brain react more sensitively to the experience of gratitude in the future, and therefore, may improve mental health. Conclusions According to Cicero, "Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others." According to Immanuel Kant, "Ingratitude is the essence of vileness." Multiple studies have shown the correlation between gratitude and increased well being not only for the individual but for all people involved. The positive psychology movement has embraced these studies and, in an effort to increase overall well-being, has begun to make an effort to incorporate exercises to increase gratitude into the movement. Although in the past gratitude has been neglected by psychology, in recent years much progress has been made in studying gratitude and its positive effects. Further reading "Gratitude," in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.. A Network for Grateful Living, founded by Br. David Steindl-Rast. "How I found Gratitude in a Bowl of Stew by Chad Daniels. Description & contents, summarizing scientific studies. Kristi Nelson (2020). Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted. . Emmons, R.A. (2016). The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being By Giving Thanks. London: Gaia. 2016 . Emmons, Robert A. (2013) Gratitude Works!: A Twenty-One-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, 2013 . Emmons, R.A. (2007). THANKS! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Boston, MA: Houghton-Mifflin. (reprinted in paperback titled THANKS! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier New York: Mariner Books, 2008 ). Translated into French as Merci ! : quand la gratitude change nos vies, Turkish as Teşekkür ederim, and Chinese as 愈感恩, 愈富足 /Yu gan en, yu fu zu. Emmons, R.A. & Hill, J.