I like to think of gratitude as a communication superpower.
You might be familiar with research that touts the benefits of cultivating a gratitude habit: higher levels of happiness and well-being, less stress, and greater resilience. Gratitude is a positive communications practice that not only improves my own well-being, but the well-being of others.
Here are 3 Ways Gratitude is a Communication Superpower
Verbal Communication
Verbally expressing gratitude is a powerful communication tool that provides a sense of belonging and connection in our world that has been strained by disconnection for the past year and a half. Expressing appreciation has been shown to strengthen emotional bonds with others as it enables them to feel seen and recognized. Too often we underestimate the impact that expressing gratitude has on others. Research has shown that it can have a ripple effect, as those on the receiving end will generally pay it forward.
Written Communication
From the time I learned how to write in elementary school, my mother would have me write thank-you letters anytime I received a gift from anyone. Research conducted by Seligman, Steen, and Peterson (2005) gave participants one week to write and deliver a letter of thanks, in person, to someone who had been especially kind to them—but who had never been properly thanked. The study results showed that participants who engaged in the letter-writing exercise reported more happiness for one month after the intervention compared to a control group.
I usually carry a couple of thank-you note cards with stamped envelopes in my day planner so that I have no excuse to not write a thank-you note.
Visual Communication
I think of ‘thoughtful actions’ in this communication channel. Kind actions towards others can also elicit positive results and serve as a model for others. In the recent book entitled, “You Have More Influence Than You Think”, author Vanessa Bohn writes that “people do observe us – more than we realize.” What might occur if we were observed engaging in more random acts of kindness and gratitude?
Gratitude does not have to be seasonal. Incorporating a few gratitude practices involving how we communicate can serve us well as we enter the holiday season.
Gratitude is a communication superpower – how are you cultivating and using it?