The outward appreciation of the goodness we receive -- knowing that the source is outside of ourselves and the wanting to return that goodness to others.
Why it's important:
Practicing gratitude has proven to be one of the most reliable methods for: increasing happiness and life satisfaction; boosting feelings of optimism, joy, pleasure, enthusiasm, and other positive emotions; and key in reducing stress, anxiety and depression.
- If we count blessings, instead of sheep: we spend less time awake before falling asleep, we get more hours of sleep each night, and feel more refreshed upon awakening.
- It increases resiliency and has been found to help people recover from traumatic events.
- It strengthens relationships by making us feel closer, more satisfied, and more committed to friends, family and those around us.
- Grateful people are more helpful, altruistic, and compassionate.
In the workplace:
- Gratitude helps employees feel more satisfied and accomplished, less emotionally exhausted, increases their job satisfaction, and reduces burnout.
- Don’t take for granted the small and large things that people at work have done to support you. Genuinely thanking them and letting them know the difference they made will energize them in wanting to make others feel as good as you made them feel.
- Thank people in-person as much as possible. It’s a much more powerful response.
- When we express gratitude to our coworkers and to our members, we create a positive environment for everyone.
Here are some ways to express gratitude:
Gratitude Tree
Print out a personal gratitude tree for your desk: writing out what or who you are grateful for or attaching little Post-its.
Download here: Personal Gratitude Tree [pdf]
Create a great Team Building exercise by asking your whole dept to participate. Find a large GoKP/EAP Gratitude Tree through your Wellness or EAP depts, or create your own out of large pieces of paper and put it on a communal wall.
Gratitude Journal
This can be an actual journal, notebook, or pad of paper. Write at least 3 things each day if you can and then re-read it periodically to remind yourself that things are better than they often seem. Reading a gratitude journal before going to bed has proven to help people relax and go to sleep faster and stay rested.
Expressing Gratitude
Take a simple post-it and write down why you are grateful for someone. Put it on their workstation, folder, lunch bag or some other place they’ll easily find it – and watch how good it makes them feel, and yourself. Go to KP's gratitude page where you can find more ideas and ways to express gratitude.