Happy Thanksgiving: The Power of Gratitude

Written by Lisa Montanaro | November 23, 2015

thank_you The words “thank you” are among the most powerful in almost any language in the world. Think about how amazing they feel to say and to be the recipient of. People say thank you when they want to express gratitude, bring someone joy, acknowledge someone’s hard-working effort, or reward them in some way. The words are simple, but create an impact on the recipient. And… on the person saying them!

Yes, research shows that the greatest benefits of gratitude may actually be experienced by the person who expresses the gratitude, not by the recipient. Indeed, an article in Psychology Today cites several research studies measure the power of gratitude. People that regularly expressed gratitude slept better, were more positive and focused, had more energy and increased attention. Pretty cool, huh?

kitchen_table This week, people in United States of America are celebrating Thanksgiving. A holiday with gratitude at the center. I happen to love this holiday. It is fairly low stress compared to many other holidays, and allows people to basically come together to enjoy a nice meal, good conversation, and express their gratitude for all the things in their life, and about each other, that they cherish. But sometimes saying “thanks” at dinner feels forced. Here are four exercises from the Greater Good Science Center to help get the genuine gratitude flowing.

The thing is, gratitude is not a one-day event. It should be a daily event. Yes, it takes foresight, and for some people a little effort, to make it routine. But when you commit to gratitude as a daily part of your life, you will experience the positive benefits that research has discovered are a natural result of gratitude.

I am thankful for my husband Sean and living in the beautiful state of California!

Whether it’s something that you say out loud to the people in your life, or maybe something that you say privately in a journal, expressing your gratitude will have a powerful impact.

So let me start by practicing what I’m advocating. I want to thank you for being part of my life, professionally, and for some of you, personally. I appreciate you being part of my community, and allowing me to share my articles, tips, and advice with you through this ezine. I am truly grateful for you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Meet the Author

Helping others be the best versions of themselves gets me jazzed!

I’ve worn many hats in my lifetime—often at the same time—while enjoying fulfilling careers. I’ve been a performer, teacher, sign language instructor, lawyer, career counselor, law professor, coach, consultant, mediator, entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, writer, and author.

I’m an eternal optimist and life-long learner, constantly researching ways to improve personal and professional effectiveness. And it brings me great joy to then pass on the results of that persistent curiosity to my clients and audiences.

Of all the career hats I’ve been privileged to wear, my favorite is owner of this business since 2002. Why? Because it provides me the opportunity to work with wonderful organizational and individual clients. On any given day, I get to connect deeply with audiences, work with dedicated teams, improve workplaces, watch clients have a-ha moments, and know I’ve made a difference in their lives and careers. And that is very satisfying.