It helps you achieve your goals.
One of the many benefits of being grateful is that it helps you work on achieving your life goals. In one study, researchers from the University of California, Davis, found that students who kept a gratitude journal were more successful in making strides toward achieving their goals compared to those who didn’t practice gratitude.
It gives you more willpower.
The fight to resist temptations starts with gratitude. Being thankful and being patient go hand-in-hand, which is why people who express gratitude are better able to practice patience in social situations, curb cravings (and keep off weight), and avoid impulse purchases.
It makes you smarter.
People who remember to say “thank you” aren’t just polite—they’re also exceptionally smart! One study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that people who are grateful have higher grade point averages, plus are less depressed and jealous of others.
It keeps your heart healthy.
A grateful heart is a healthy one, at least according to researchpublished in Spirituality in Clinical Practice. In the study, researchers found that gratitude reduced inflammation and produced healthier heart rhythms in patients with heart failure.
It helps you enjoy your job.
When your boss goes out of his or her way to let you know that they appreciate your hard work, it makes you actually want to do a good job. One study from the University of Washington determined that when a person felt appreciated in the office, they had a higher job satisfaction and quality of life. And in another study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers found that receiving a thank you note from a boss improved workers’ performances by 50 percent.