It makes you less aggressive.
Those who practice gratitude are particularly adept at keeping their cool instead of flying off the handle. Even in response to negative feedback or unkind behavior, people who are thankful are unlikely to be vengeful or feel the need to retaliate, according to one study from the University of Kentucky.
It helps you cope with traumatic life events.
Not only does gratitude positively affect your mood, but several studies have shown that it also provides a means by which you can overcome emotional trauma. For instance, one study published in Behavior Research and Therapy found that war veterans who ranked highly on the gratitude scale had lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers believe that people who are grateful are able to focus less on the traumatic events and suffer less because of this.
It creates loyal customer bases.
What businesses have quickly come to realize is that more than anything, consumers want to feel like they’re being appreciated. One study out of the Queensland University of Technology found that when retailers expressed gratitude toward their customers, the consumers were more likely to remain loyal to that business and continue shopping there. Rather than providing perks that clearly benefit the company, the study authors suggest that businesses offer services that put the customer first like members’ only events or special store hours for members only.
It makes you less materialistic.
Nothing good can come from chasing wealth and being materialistic. And if you find yourself putting the pursuit of money over your relationships and well-being, then perhaps adding some gratitude into the rotation might turn things around. According to researchers from the University of Miami, gratitude “may obviate the need for materialistic striving as a way of coping with existential insecurity” by making one’s outlook on life more positive.
It makes you more trusting of others.
When people are in a good mood, they are also more likely to put their faith in others. And similarly, one study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology concluded that gratitude—another emotion with “positive valence”—increases a person’s tendency to trust.