If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we have a lot to be grateful for as we became aware that we were taking a lot of people and things in our lives for granted. With everything going on around us, the world is in dire need of good qualities like kindness and gratitude.
Expressing gratitude not only gives your loved ones a sense of appreciation and happiness, but it also helps you feel better and enables you to build stronger relationships. Here are 6 simple ways to express your gratitude next time someone does something nice to you, or if you just want to show someone that you are thankful for their presence in your life.
1. Express Gratitude Verbally
Words are powerful and saying thank you to someone using sincere words, even if they are simple and direct, have a huge effect on the listener. People love to hear nice words directed to them, and most importantly they love to feel that they are appreciated. You don’t have to use sophisticated language, simple but sincere, heartfelt words are more than enough and will touch the heart of the listener.
2. Express Gratitude in Writing
Some people struggle with expressing their emotions verbally, which causes a lot of misunderstandings, so they prefer writing letters, texting, or writing notes. Writing has its charm, and a simple thank you note that is thoughtfully and sincerely written is a very effective way of showing appreciation. If you were invited to someone’s home, a thank you for your hospitality note to the host will show them how much you appreciated the invitation and the effort they exerted to accommodate you as their guest. Unlike verbal expressions of gratitude, thank you notes and letters can be kept as a keepsake to remind the receiver of your love and appreciation for them.
3. A Thank-you Gift
Who doesn’t like receiving gifts? Receiving gifts brightens up the day, and both givers and receivers will experience the benefits associated with giving. Gifts can be kept as a good memory, the same as notes and letters. A thank you gift doesn’t have to be expensive, but it must be meaningful, so you need to take your time while choosing a gift. You can buy a gift or you can make one, which will add a personal touch to it.
4. Showing Up to Say Thank you
Going out of your way to thank someone and show your gratitude is very effective, and it shows how much you care and value that person. Time is precious, and giving a person some of your time by showing up to say thank you in person, can have a big impact on that person and on your relationship. Expressing gratitude by giving the gift of time is deeply appreciated.
5. Lend a Helping Hand
Although words are powerful, actions speak louder than words. You can show your gratitude and say thank you to others by doing something for them or helping them out. You can offer to run an errand, babysitting, pet sitting, or simply doing the dishes! Any form of help will be appreciated and effective.
6. Make It Public
There are many ways of expressing your gratitude publicly, it depends on the situation, and of course, in this era that we are living in, social media is an effective way to post a thank you note so that everyone can see it. However, social media isn’t the only way; if you want to thank an employee or a colleague, you can do that during a meeting, and if you want to thank a friend or a family member, you can do that in an outing or during a family gathering.
Sharing your gratitude toward another person with others makes it special and genuine. The public expression of gratitude helps in motivating others to do the same and helps in spreading kindness and good vibes.
People hate to feel that they are taken for granted, and expressing gratitude is a must in order to build and maintain strong relationships. There are many ways to show that you are thankful for someone’s actions or mere presence in your life, so choose the one that suits your personality, and show others that you appreciate them and acknowledge what they do for you. Do not hesitate to show others that their efforts are noticed no matter how small they are. You will be surprised how a simple, heartfelt thank you can positively affect your relationships and brighten your loved ones’ day!
