Giving Thanks

Gratitude is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only does expressing it make the other person feel good, it helps make our bodies and minds healthier too. “There is a magnetic appeal to gratitude,” says Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and a pioneer of gratitude research (who knew?). “It speaks to a need that is deeply entrenched.”

When people appreciate what they’ve received, most of them feel compelled to give back. Doing so helps build a successful and cohesive team. And acknowledging the reasons you are grateful keeps you from disconnecting from others, which can lead to loneliness, anger, or even a less robust immune system.