The Power Of Gratitude

But, we must also rely on what the research says (which is what they work hard for). In this case, the results of the studies carried out by Dr. Roberto Emmons indicate that people who are grateful (to life, to relatives, to opportunities) are up to 25% happier.

Have you ever thought about what are the things that increase your levels of happiness? Sometimes we do not start to analyze these questions, because we are very busy with nonsensical things. What really makes us feel happy and fulfilled is not working all day (in a job that we do not like almost always), but in the smile of your children when you play with them, or in spending an afternoon with your parents or grandparents. And what about that simple word that contains so many feelings at the same time? I am speaking, without a doubt, of “thank you.”

If we could organize the words into groups, without a doubt “thank you” would be on the same level as “sorry”, “I love you” and “please” (beyond the fact that these last two are made up of two words) . This is so because on the one hand they are very difficult to say, but on the other, when they come out of our mouth, the whole world changes.

Being grateful increases your happiness. This may seem logical and normal to a person who is used to it or who has no difficulty saying it. However, it seems that “thank you” has become a rare commodity these days. Nobody stops two minutes a day to be grateful for everything they have, instead of spending two hours complaining about what they don’t have. And if you really weigh assets and liabilities, you will realize that there is more to be thankful for than you thought.

A beautiful family, healthy children, friends to count on through thick and thin, a partner who listens and understands you, a job that allows you to eat and live, a refrigerator with food, a roof where you can shelter from rain or a soft bed to rest every night. Does it seem little to you? Do you know how many people in the world do not have even a quarter of all this? It is not a reproach, but a reflection. It is good that you realize how much you are missing by not being grateful for what you have.

Appreciate what we have, something that seems “old-fashioned.” You can do the simple exercise of writing down on paper (or making a mental list) with everything you have to be thankful for. There is no doubt that it will bring you all the happiness that you think was lost. A nice smile will appear on your face when you say, after each “item” a “thank you”. And that will affect your health and the way you see things.

And best of all, being grateful for life doesn’t require a large bank account or a house full of material things. In the study named at the beginning, the interviewees said that what they wanted to thank but did not take the time to do was: a sunset, being alive, seeing their children grow up, getting up in the morning and being healthy, the generosity of friends or take care of a pet.

So what are you waiting for to start saying “thank you” more often? Even if it seems that you are already getting tired of the one next to you, what does it matter? A grateful attitude without hesitation will spread like a seed with the wind. And, perhaps, you will begin to hear more that word forbidden to many in every corner, corner and place where you pass. It costs nothing to get started, right? You will be guaranteed at least a portion of the happiness that you seek so much and do not always find. Take the opportunity to be grateful for the good things in your life when you get up or go to bed and to say thank you to someone who gives way, lends you a pen or points you to a street.

I’ve already started… thanks for reading this article!