The importance of showing gratitude

Everyone knows that it is good manners to thank people.

What might be less intuitive is that showing gratitude creates a whole host of positive outcomes for the grateful person.

According to The University of California at Berkeley, practicing gratitude can lead to benefits in the physical, psychological, and social areas of a person’s life. Having a stronger immune system, being more alert and optimistic, and feeling less lonely or isolated are just a few of the ways that a person could notice an improvement over time. The social aspect is possibly the most important because gratitude can help strengthen relationships by affirming others.

Psychology Today highlights gratitude’s role in the relationship of a married couple.  Over time it is common for a person to become numb to their spouse’s good qualities and only focus on the annoying parts of their personality. This leads many couples to think that they have lost the spark.

But, couples who have an ongoing appreciation for one another are less likely to end their relationship and more likely to become closer, research shows.

One great technique for showing appreciation to a partner is by actively listening. Lean in, make eye contact, and show them that what they say is important.

In the realm of business, Fast Company looks at how gratitude can help to motivate employees to work harder and be more loyal to a boss. In fact, showing appreciation for a job well done was a better motivator than a financial incentive in most cases. Without that crucial interaction, employees will be much more likely to be unhappy with their jobs, miss work, burnout, or even quit.