Research has shown that people benefit greatly from showing gratitude. Being grateful for what you have and expressing thanks directly to a friend or colleague has a significant and lasting effect on one’s well-being and happiness.
Studies performed by positive psychologists like Sonja Lyubomirsky (author of The How of Happiness) have empirically measured these effects and quantified how much happier it makes one feel and for how long. It turns out that maintaining a gratitude journal for only one week makes one noticeably more happy even three months later (!) when compared to a statically-balanced control group.
