Do you show gratitude in your relationship?
An article in Psychology Today, entitled “Does Gratitude Matter in a Marriage? ” the author shares her conviction that gratitude is the main ingredient in the glue that keeps couples connected.
In a recent study that appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, results were published after 50 committed couples were given a week to fill out appreciation journals. One of the most important findings was that on days when one mate reported feeling more appreciated, he or she tended to appreciate his or her partner more the following day, leading one to believe that gratitude is contagious!
In another part of the study, researchers found that appreciative partners would use active listening with their mates. They would lean into the other person when he or she was talking and would show they were digesting what the person was saying.
Dr. Gordon, the lead researcher on the study, says it’s important to take the initiative in showing gratitude for a mate. “Instead of waiting for the other person to make you feel good, you can jumpstart the cycle and take it into your own hands by focusing on what’s good in your relationship.”
Gratitude is a skill anyone can cultivate. The more you use it, the more it comes back to you!
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