8 Ways to Express Gratitude Other Than Thank You
Most people find it easy to say thank you because it just comes naturally. The issue is that you say these two words every day without much thought. For example, when you stopped for a coffee on your way to work, you thanked the clerk who handed you your change.
This phrase can mean anything or nothing. You’re not grateful for the change, but you’re being polite. There is a significant distinction between someone who expresses gratitude and those who use the term as a form of lip service.
It all comes down to being thankful. Being grateful comes from a different place deep within, and it is about more than a catchphrase. Most parents want their children to grow up and be grateful, but in order to do so, you must be willing to lead by example.
Examining two children from different financial backgrounds is a common scenario. One child gets everything they want and doesn’t mind if their parents buy them another new outfit because they already have an overflowing closet. That new outfit, on the other hand, would mean everything to a child who doesn’t have much and only wears hand-me-downs.
So many children grow up with everything handed to them and are unappreciative of their blessings. It’s time for parents to take a stand, change the entitled dynamic, and teach their children to be grateful for everything they have.
8 Ways to Express Gratitude Other Than Thank You
Positive Action Should Back Up Your Words
It’s not always easy to be thankful, especially when you’ve had a bad day or aren’t feeling well. However, you must be aware that others, particularly your family, are watching you. Your children will notice how you react in both good and bad times, so you must maintain a positive attitude. Here are some suggestions for increasing your gratitude and becoming a more positive person.
Establishing a Thanksgiving Tradition
Did you know you can train yourself to be grateful? Do you have a habit of complaining about trivial matters in your life? Instead of dwelling on the negative, why not cultivate a grateful attitude?
Make an effort to recite what you’re thankful for every day, and make it a game with your children. Sticky notes are sometimes used to post these things, but you can also write them down on paper or a whiteboard. Here are some things to be thankful for every day:
- A lovely place to live
- A vehicle to transport you to your destination
- Clothing and footwear to wear Food to eat
- A family that adores you
- Toys, books, video games, and other activities to do together
- A job that allows you to pay your bills
- A helpful partner
When you teach your children to be thankful for their home, they will begin to think and treat it differently. Why not take them to a location where there are homeless people? When they consider their options, they will learn to value their home more.
Sometimes parents must expose their children to the harsh realities of life in order for them to appreciate the blessings. When you step into someone else’s shoes for a moment, it teaches everyone in the family a valuable lesson.
Express Your Reasons for Being Thankful
Every day, you pass up numerous opportunities to publicly express your gratitude. Assume your spouse started and warmed up your car before you left for work. You demonstrate how to express gratitude by publicly thanking them and telling your family how nice it is to have someone who goes above and beyond.
What about your spacious backyard or a nearby park where your children can play? Why not remind them how wonderful it is to have plenty of space to enjoy the great outdoors? You are expressing gratitude to them, but you are also forcing them to be present in the moment. They will return to that yard with fresh eyes and notice all the things they may have overlooked previously.
Perform Random Acts of Kindness
Making gratitude gestures with your family is something you can try. For example, volunteering at a local food pantry or soup kitchen is one way to express gratitude. You won’t have to say anything, but simply serving those in need will be enough of a lesson.
There is always someone who has less than you, and stopping your busy life for a moment to help can change your perspective on many things. Serving a fellow human being who is down on their luck is a humbling experience that demonstrates not only gratitude but kindness.
Show Gratitude by Smiling More Often
It’s impossible to have a grateful heart and walk around with a frown. Please let your face know if you’re content and grateful for life’s blessings. You have the opportunity to show the world your grateful attitude by simply changing your facial expression. Don’t think your spouse and children won’t notice a difference in your demeanour.
It makes you feel better to have an ear-to-ear grin. Did you know that a smile is contagious? When you smile, you activate the orbitofrontal cortex in your brain, according to a Penn State study. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine can be released by something as simple as beaming.
These hormones will assist you in relaxing, reducing stress, and lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. As a bonus, it will improve your mood. Start smiling the next time you feel down and out; it will change you and those around you. Furthermore, smiling rather than frowning makes it easier to express gratitude.
Act Without Expectation of Reward
The greatest blessings in life often come from the most insignificant gestures. Paying for the food in the car behind you, covering someone’s groceries in line at the supermarket, or paying the bridge toll for another vehicle can increase your thankfulness.
The grateful waves that reverberate from such an act bring goodness into the world. It not only benefits you, but it also benefits someone else. Furthermore, your children are in the back seat as you do these things, and they will never forget when you show kindness and love to others.
Be present.
How often have you arrived late for a family dinner or an event? Your thoughts are 100 miles away, and you’re on the phone or thinking about work. Being present and paying attention is one way to express gratitude for your blessings.
The grateful waves that reverberate from such an act bring goodness into the world. It not only benefits you, but it also benefits someone else. Furthermore, your children are in the back seat as you do these things, and they will never forget when you show kindness and love to others.
Life is full of little lessons that help you become a better person, but if you’re not growing and becoming better, you’re stagnating. Have you ever been near a body of water that doesn’t move or receives enough oxygen? Because it’s stagnant, it smells like rotten eggs. Never pass up an opportunity to become a better version of yourself.
Express gratitude with hugs
Hugging someone, like smiling, releases those feel-good chemicals and is beneficial to both you and the person on the receiving end. Hugging, according to Step to Health, can be as beneficial to your heart as eliminating all salt. It’s amazing to think that such a small gesture can have such a big impact.
Consider the advantages to the person who needed the hug and felt your warmth. It could be what gets them through the rest of the day. Another National Library of Medicine study discovered that couples who hug more frequently have higher levels of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone, coursing through their bodies. Furthermore, experts discovered that these people can live longer lives due to better heart health.
Final Thoughts on Display
Instead of uttering empty words, express gratitude through action.
The next time you say “thank you,” pause to consider whether you’re just saying it for show or if you truly mean it. There are numerous other ways to express gratitude to others and teach your children the importance of having a thankful heart. What can you do today to make a difference in the world by simply being grateful?
