Giving thanks is something we seem to practice only around Thanksgiving. One year we wrote down something we were thankful for each day at dinner. It was my mom’s idea, and we had a little white box full of folded slips of paper. At Thanksgiving, we read a year’s worth of things we were thankful for. It brought back so many good memories; it was a box full of all the highlights of the year!

I continued doing this on my own for the next year. I used a mason jar with color note cards. When I cracked it open, all the gratitude spilled over me and I reminisced in all the good times. Being thankful has always been something my family tries to practice. Saying thank you to the waitress, telling someone you appreciate them, so on. But there are so many benefits that we don’t even know about!

In our brains, expressing gratitude increase oxytocin levels. Oxytocin is a hormone that affects happiness. Being grateful also has a calming effect and helps you sleep better. The positive expression of gratitude promotes positive emotions and even more positive thoughts. It also enhances your relationships, especially your romantic ones.

You learn how to appreciate the small things. When you take note of things you’re grateful for, you begin to notice all the minor things in your life that are taken for granted. You begin to feel happier as you realize how fortunate you are. You stop comparing yourself to others when you find gratitude.

So how do you show more gratitude?

Say thank you. Tell someone you appreciate them. Write down something every day that you are grateful for. Perform small acts of kindness. Write thank-you notes. It doesn't have to be anything grand, just the little things.