Express gratitude to increase positive emotions, positive memories, and reduce negativity

Thanking other people for good deeds and being grateful is a powerful way to increase positive emotions, connectedness and reduce negative emotions. Deliberately expressing gratitude can focus your attention on positive things and even help you engage in positive behaviors. Sometimes, to even pay them forward.

Even when you are thankful for the smallest things which don’t involve other people, you bring your attention closer to the meaningful, valuable, and positive events in life. As a result, gratitude improves overall well-being.

Being grateful can reduce a wide range of negative emotional states like grief, stress, envy, guilt, and sorrow. In fact, the art of thanking others is linked to motivating others to repeat good deeds and solidify your personal motivation to do something good. This mechanism improves the chances of being satisfied in life.

Some examples of how to express gratitude:

1. Write 3 things you are thankful for in the morning or at night, making this a journaling habit. It’ll train your attention to focus on positive things in life
2. Make a phone call, send a WhatsApp, or an email with the express intent of thanking someone. No hidden agenda, be genuine. Such acts are seen as kind, impactful, and valuable. By doing this you motivate yourself to appreciate others, do good things, and encourage others to repeat good deeds.
3. Mentally acknowledge a positive moment. If you can’t directly thank someone, tell your story to someone else. Sometimes, people just need to be aware that genuine gratefulness exists in the world.