Feeling and epressing gratitude can make you happy in the moment—just think back to the joy you felt the last time a friend helped you out or your partner cooked a gourmet dinner—and a growing mound of evidence shows that giving thanks can also have a lasting effect on your mood.
One study from the University of Pennsylvania found that people who wrote and delivered a heartfelt thank-you letter actually felt happier for a full month after, and the same researchers discovered that writing down three positive events each day for a week kept happiness levels high for up to six months.
Grateful people tend to feel a sense of abundance, appreciate the contributions of others, recognise life’s small pleasures, and acknowledge the importance of experiencing and expressing gratitude. By paying attention to life’s positives, you can train your brain to see more of them and cultivate an attitude of gratitude, leading to a boost in happiness that lasts year-round.
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