This is how expressing gratitude can make you happier

This is how expressing gratitude can make you happierThis is how expressing gratitude can make you happierHappy Thanksgiving, bosses Todays a day I like to focus on giving thanks. Andnew researchfrom the Booth School of Business shows why this is one habit we should embrace more often.Researchers found that actuallyexpressingur gratitude not only boosts ur own well-being, but also makes a big impact onthose who youre thankful for. But more often than not in everyday life, we might feel it, but we dont always express it. Telling some one how much you appreciate them might seem clich or weird and over the top. But this research found that we underestimate how much our thanks is appreciated.We overestimate the awkwardAccording to thestudy,participants in three experiments wrote gratitude letters and then predicted how surprised, happy, and awkward recipients would feel. Recipients then reported how receiving an expression of gratitude actually made them feel. Expressers significantly un derestimated how surprised recipients would be about why expressers were grateful, overestimated how awkward recipients would feel, and underestimated how positive recipients would feel.Giving thanks islessawkward than we think its going to be.So this thanksgiving, I want you to actually say the words. Tell the people youre with why you appreciate them today. And pick up the phone or send the text to the people youre not with but who are on your mind.Make your day and theirs, too.Brad the Boo used to mention periodically someone from his past whod made a big impact on him. Its actually his ex-girlfriends father. He recommended to Brad that he read a book,Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,which is this coming of age novel I now recommend especially for young men navigating career change or big life changes. He got this recommendation at a key time in his life when he benefitted greatly from it.Now, a more anxious side of me used to feel a pang of insecurity whenever Id hear Brad talk about this guy in his life, as though thinking fondly about his ex-girlfriends dad was akin to him wanting to get back with her just for that relationship. Or Id take it as some personal affront about my dad. But when Id listen to Brad mention him from a place of security, confidence, and self-worth, I told him youve got to tell this guy about the impact he had on you. You cant go through life waxing poetic about people who made an impact on you without ever letting them know.So finally, he did. Years later. He emailed the guy this summer. And yes, he did mention that we were about to be married and inquired about his ex, which I thought was very sweet of him. He got a wonderfully warm response back and I know it made his day to hear from him. And it probably his exs dads day, too.Dont keep your gratitude a secretIts so important we dont go through life keeping what were most grateful for a secret. Whispering our joy doesnt keep us any safer from losing it.So this Thanksgi ving, I want to say from the bottom of my heart, Im grateful for you. Really. This work is not easy. Its been a long year. Making the leap into this independent production was terrifying. But you listeners were there to keep it real with me. And truly, to create with me. Your voicemails? They makethis showwhat it is a conversation, not a proclamation. Your boss moves give me life, and your willingness to share this show with your friends is the ultimate compliment. But most of all, when I read the reviews that have been coming in lately oniTunes,I appreciate the fact that you seem to hear how much of my heart goes into this work. I think you get what a personal endeavor this has been and really, when you care this much, and put your heart into your work, it feels vulnerable. So I appreciate all the ways in which youve responded to this show this year with your whole hearts, too.So thank you. Happy Thanksgiving. And keep bossinThis article was originally published on BossedUp.