Gratitude Month!
How Can We Best Express Gratitude Towards Others?
“There is no duty more indispensable than that of returning a kindness”
- Cicero
Gratitude can have a lasting positive impact if we work towards incorporating it into our daily lives. The expression of gratitude is a self-promoting exercise since grateful people are found to be more likely to respond with gratitude to a wider range of scenarios and recognize the beneficence on the part of others.
This type of action leads to a positive, self-renewing, feedback loop – the more gratitude we display, the more our subjective wellbeing and resistance to negativity increases, and the more grateful we are likely to be!
Actions that display gratitude are more valuable than solely feeling gratitude towards others and for this very reason, it’s important to recognize the methods by which we can express gratitude effectively and exercise them as and when the situation warrants.
How we choose to express gratitude can depend significantly on the social context – taking a partner to their favorite restaurant to thank them for their support may be a completely suitable practice, but would not be a measured expression of gratitude towards, say, a stranger who held open a door.
Below are just a few ways in which you can express gratitude to others – the list is by no means definitive but is a starting point for finding methods of expressing your thanks.
Random acts of kindness:
Random acts of kindness can yield substantial reward in terms of subjective well being. If you see a stranger struggling under a heavy load of shopping, offer a hand. Donate unwanted clothes to charity. Help someone lost with directions. The list is nigh inexhaustible!
Be respectful:
Maintain standards of etiquette in your day-to-day interactions with everyone you encounter. Whether you know the person or not, you should always use the common courtesy you expect yourself. Hold the door open, respect their space, and be mindful of how your actions impact them.
Ask to help or even better, help without being asked:
In some situations, the best thing you can do is simply help! If you notice others need help, you might choose to step in without waiting for permission. If you’re visiting their home and see that the trash needs to be taken out or the dishes need to be washed, just do it. Sometimes, these simple acts speak louder than words and show that you’re there to help in any way you can. Of course, use your best judgment to determine what is appropriate.
Volunteer in your community:
Volunteering is not only a great way to connect with others and gain experience, it has also been found to increase subjective well being and pose significant health benefits. Those who undertake volunteering opportunities report increased levels of happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health and lower levels of depression.
