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“First off, I want to thank God … He has shown me that it’s a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates.” – Matthew McConaughey, Oscar Acceptance Speech 2014^[1]

Alright, Alright, Alright…

“And the Oscar goes to…!”

Okay, so for most of us, the opportunity to sit in eager anticipation and see if our outstanding lifetime performance merits a prestigious award doesn’t come about. We don’t  have to scramble to a stage and rushedly list through thank-yous before music cues us to hurry up and move along. Or, do  we?

“The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse…” (O Me! O Life! by Walt Whitman).

Cheesy as it may sound, we do have a ‘performance’ that contributes to the overall story of this life and world. And, we do have people and circumstances to thank for shaping us and our characters, and for providing us with unique experiences and opportunities. Not to mention the challenges and difficulties that contribute to this process too.

In his 2014 Oscar acceptance speech, Matthew McConaughey offers a surprisingly practical blueprint for gratitude—one that applies well beyond Academy Award acceptance speeches. He reaches the stage with “thank you” ceaselessly flowing from him. Then he specifically thanks and acknowledges the three-tier pyramid of people he “needs” to consult daily and expresses his gratitude to them for bringing him to that moment of reward.

He begins with God: “He’s graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand or any other human hand.He has shown me that it’s a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates.”^[2]

Followed by God is his family, and finally, himself – particularly, the version of himself he aspires to be in the future. I reference this speech not just because of its practicality , but because it reflects a deeply Jesus-minded order: God, others, self. That is the perfect ordering of where we should put our love, praise and thanks.

The Scientific Fact that Gratitude Reciprocates

‘Gratitude’ is a  buzzword that has had a surge in the past decade, but what does it actually mean and is it really that helpful?

To be totally honest, when I hear the word ‘gratitude’ now, it conjures up a vision of a hippie-esque caricature  with a journal permanently in-hand and a perpetual grin to accompany that. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, it just doesn’t really attract me to a life of practicing gratitude.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word gratitude as “the state of being grateful”.^[3] Simply put, I think that means to feel or show an appreciation for things that impact us. McConaughey calls it science. I don’t recall that lesson from any of my Junior or Leaving Cert science classes – and he doesn’t really digress into what he means by it. But it turns out, behaviour does impact biology^[4] – something backed by quite a bit of research.

So, here are a few scientific facts that show concrete benefits to living in that “state” of a thankful life: 

• Better Heart Health: A study with over 49,000 women found that those with a more grateful mindset had a 9% lower risk of death, particularly from heart disease.^[5]
  
• Improved Sleep Quality: People who regularly practice gratitude report falling asleep more easily and enjoying better quality rest.^[6]
  
  
• Stronger Immune System: Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve immune response, making the body more resilient to illness.^[7]
  
  
• Greater Emotional Resilience: Gratitude helps individuals manage stress more effectively and bounce back from challenges.^[8]
  
  

“Gratitude reciprocates”, says Matthew McConaughey; this is indeed proof of that scientific fact he alluded to. Being grateful clearly reaps an abundance of benefits – and this is solely showing the physical level of that!

What Would Future Me Thank Me For?

The last person McConaughey acknowledges in his speech is himself – the version of himself he is constantly working towards being.

Who does that look like for you?

And how can you practically and meaningfully live in a state of gratitude – one that helps shape and strengthen the person you’re becoming?

Using the God → Others → Self blueprint as a guide, here are a few ways to begin:

1. God – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you…” (1 Thes 5:18)

• Gratitude begins with acknowledging the Giver. We live in a world where we’re entirely dependent and not in control – a scary but freeing truth. God is orchestrating it all, and all He asks of us is our presence: “in all your ways acknowledge Him…” (Proverbs 3:6). That’s how we show gratitude. Think of Jesus and the ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19) – only one returns to give thanks. In a world that often forgets God, our time with Him is our greatest thank You. And gratitude certainly “reciprocates” here; when we give ourselves to God, He restores and reorders our heart, mind, body, and soul.

2. Others – FaceTime

•  Our attention is one of the most fought for things in this age. Think of the billions spent on marketing for phones and media to try to keep your gaze just merely a few seconds longer. It is that valuable. Giving our time and attention freely to others is a huge way we can express gratitude and show them they are valued. How do we do that? Being present; making eye contact, putting away our phones, actively listening and not just waiting to respond. I am preaching to myself here.

3. Self – Spilling the Tea

• Journaling. Yes, I know it sounds a bit sentimental and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be – and it works! I confess: I journal! It helps express the experiences we’re thankful for more concretely and intentionally, training us to appreciate even the smallest details. I have a journal from over a decade ago, and one entry simply stated “I had a great cup of tea today”. Looking back at what delighted us then has a powerful effect that extends that moment of gratitude to the present moment too. I have changed in many ways, but some core parts still remain. And a good cup of tea? It always fills me with gratitude.

Cue the Music

The common thread here is that expressing gratitude does not have to be a grand display, or a well-rehearsed speech. Being present is being grateful in action, and this is a powerful foundation. 

Alright, alright, alright. That’s my spiel on gratitude –  and I will now stop referencing Matthew McConaughey. I’ll leave you with the wise words of our General Manager here at An Tobar Nua, Mike Shortt:

“Gratitude is like magic, it turns what we have into more than enough”. A scientific fact, some might say. Because yes, gratitude does reciprocate. But more than that, it multiplies.

SAOL

If you are looking for more tips and tools to practice gratitude, check out ‘Peace, Man’ and ‘Get Happy’ on our website SAOL by An Tobar Nua Retreats – make sure you look at the Teachers Resource Document for both episodes too for loads of great ideas!

SAOL offers engaging video series, lesson plans, and discussion questions designed for the Junior and Leaving Certificate RE curriculums. From personal development tools to faith-informed educational content, SAOL supports teachers and students alike!

^[1] Matthew McConaughey, Oscar Award Acceptance Speech for Best Leading Actor, Academy Awards, Los Angeles, CA, March 2, 2014, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/matthewmcconaugheyoscaracceptance.htm.

^[2] Ibid.

^[3] Merriam-Webster, “Gratitude,” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratitude.

^[4] Mayo Clinic Health System, “Feeling Grateful Improves Health,” Mayo Clinic Health System, https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/can-expressing-gratitude-improve-health.

^[5] Harvard Health Publishing, “Gratitude Linked to Longer Life and Fewer Heart-Related Deaths,” Harvard Health, https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/gratitude-linked-to-longer-life-and-fewer-heart-related-deaths.

^[6] UCLA Health, “Health Benefits of Gratitude,” UCLA Health, https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/health-benefits-gratitude.

^[7] Ibid.

^[8] University of Maryland Global Campus, “Relationships, Resilience, and Wellbeing: The Science of Gratitude,” UMGC Blog, https://www.umgc.edu/blog/the-science-of-gratitude#2.