For some of us, it’s hard to be vulnerable enough to express our thanks and talk about our emotions. For others, we’re simply so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, we forget to be thankful for the small things.
One thing we can agree on is that the positive mental benefits of practising gratitude are astounding, psychological research from Harvard Health suggests that “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Well, we’re sold! So we’ve put together a lift of 5 easy things that you can do to show your gratitude, today.
- Put it in a letter.
It can be hard to articulate yourself when talking directly to someone, maybe you find it hard to be emotionally vulnerable or to express your thanks without getting chocked up. Writing a letter of thanks provides a meaningful keepsake to its recipient and allows you to take your time to craft your thank you so that it is articulated perfectly.
- Bake away
Have you ever seen anyone look disappointed whilst receiving a baked treat? No, me neither. Get into the kitchen and whip up a batch of cookies or cupcakes and deliver them for a delicious way to say thank you. If whoever you’re thanking has dietary requirement, cater for them by finding a gluten-free or vegan recipe, the extra effort will not go a-miss. Thank you never tasted so good!
- Give them your time
Material items are all well and good, but there’s no better gift than your time. If you want to give back to someone who’s been good to you, get in touch and make plans to show just how much you value them and their company. You could go out for dinner together; grab a coffee or even just give them a call.
- Return the favour
If someone has helped you out of a rough spot or been there for you when you needed them then the best way to return the favour is to let them know you’re here for them too. A simple text message saying something along the lines of ‘hey, how you doing? Just want to make sure you know I’m always here if you need to talk about anything’ will do the trick. Be observant, if they’re being distant or if their behaviour changes, check-in, let them know you’re there.
- Share Gratitude
You didn’t think we’d leave yourselves out, did you? Posting your thanks on Share Gratitude is the most simple and efficient way possible to show your gratitude towards others. Whether it’s a big thank-you to the staff at your local hospital for taking care of you whilst you were sick, or a quick ‘cheers’ to your local Barista for always greeting you with a smile on their face, you can say it all right here in one convenient place.