10 Simple Ways to Express Gratitude
Being thankful to someone and showing them how grateful you are may seem like a small thing, but it can have a massive impact on someone’s life. Can you imagine a world where everyone showed gratitude for the things that were done for them? Even a simple act of kindness, like a smile for example, could brighten someone’s day and make them want to help again in the future.
You can make your life and those lives around you better by expressing your gratitude!
As a Brisbane life coach, these are some of the methods I’d suggest to show your gratitude:
• Send a note saying thank you. Sometimes it is nice to read about how thankful a person is. Taking the time to write something down rather than just sending a text message makes it more personal too.
• Give them a hug. You can only do this where appropriate, but if you’re feeling grateful about something, it’s okay to give your family or close friends a hug.
• Offer a free favour. Even if it is something small, do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return. Think of what the person wants or needs and do your best to help, even if it is just making a cup of coffee or doing a small chore. Actions speak louder than words, and this simple act will show your gratitude.
• Give a little gift. A bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates won’t cost much, but the act of giving them shows that you’ve thought about the person and that you are grateful for what they do for you.
• Be happy for their achievements. Show someone how pleased you are with their achievement by writing a nice card or some flowers would be a nice thought.
• Write a list. This will only take 5-10 minutes but will show just how much you care. Sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of 10 or more things that you love about someone. Mention the things that they do for you that you feel gratitude for. Send that list to them. You can also do this for yourself and what you are feeling gratitude towards in your own life. It’s something I frequently recommend as a Brisbane life coach to my clients.
• Give them public acknowledgement. Not everyone will love being made a fuss of in public, but for some, public praise would be appreciated. This works especially well if you’re the boss and those you wish to offer gratitude to are your employees.
• Just be there. Always be available for those you care about, even when things are not going well for you. When you are supportive of others, you are showing how much you care and that you’re grateful for the times they were there to support you.
• Surprise them with kindness. This works especially well with your partner. Surprise them with a lovely dinner or clean the house when they go out shopping. These simple tasks will mean a lot to someone, especially if they are busy or stressed with very little spare time. Gratitude can have a very profound effect on relationships.
• Look for the good in every situation. You may not always feel grateful for the things that are going on in your life. Especially if you feel as though things are going wrong. However, now is the time to be most grateful. Look for those little things that are going right for you. Focus on these positives and be grateful for them. They can help take your mind off any negatives.
You don’t have to make grand gestures to express gratitude. Even the smallest act can show someone how thankful you are. If you’d like more information on living a life of gratitude, check out my other blogs here.
