The Power of Thank You
November 23rd, 2009 Posted in Newsletter
In the spirit of Thanksgiving I’d love to share with you the benefits and power of two simple words. THANK YOU.
They are two words that have the power to transform our health, happiness, athletic performance and success. Research shows that grateful people are happier and more likely to maintain good friendships. A state of gratitude, according to research by the Institute of HeartMath, also improves the heart’s rhythmic functioning, which helps us to reduce stress, think more clearly under pressure and heal physically. It’s actually physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time. When you are grateful you flood your body and brain with emotions and endorphins that uplift and energize you rather than the stress hormones that drain you.
Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. In fact, the number one reason why people leave their jobs is because they don’t feel appreciated. A simple thank you and a show of appreciation can make all the difference.
Gratitude is like muscle. The more we do with it the stronger it gets. In this spirit here are 4 ways to practice Thanksgiving every day of the year.
1. Take a Daily Thank You Walk - I wrote about this in The Energy Bus. Take a simple 10-minute walk each day and say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day.
2. Meal Time Thank You’s - On Thanksgiving, or just at dinner with your friends and family, go around the table and have each person, including the kids at the little table, say what they are thankful for.
3. Gratitude Visit - Martin Seligman, Ph.D., the father of positive psychology, suggests that we write a letter expressing our gratitude to someone. Then we visit this person and read them the letter. His research shows that people who do this are measurably happier and less depressed a month later.
4. Say Thank You at Work - Doug Conant, the CEO of Campbell Soup, has written over 16,000 thank you notes to his employees and energized the company in the process. Energize and engage your co-workers and team by letting them know you are grateful for them and their work. And don’t forget to say thank you to your clients and customers too.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for YOU.
- Jon
In what ways do you express thankfulness and gratitude to others? Share your thoughts here.
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Tags: campbell soup, doug conant, gratitude, heartmath, jon gordon, thank you, thankful, thanksgiving
13 Responses to “The Power of Thank You”
By Lorri on Nov 23, 2009
I took a week when working on my goals for the new year and wrote 10 notes to people that have helped me get to where I am in my career. I received such nice thank you’s from each of them. It felt good to me and they appreciated it. Now I am doing the same for my friends and family.
By named on Nov 23, 2009
I am thankful for Campbell soup!
By Cindy on Nov 23, 2009
Our Principal started a 100 Grand Thank you program. We email her with our thank you (to whomever in the building) and she will put a 100 Grand candy bar attached to a cut out “Thank You” in our mailbox. On the “thank you” she writes what we are being thanked for and who it’s from.
By Brendan Wenzel on Nov 23, 2009
Hi Jon,
Great post sir! I fully agree that being thankful for what you already have is the best place to start receiving more. I actually started a small “Giving Thanks” Giveaway on my site as my way of saying thank you to everyone on the internet that has helped me. Makes me feel really good inside to give back to the community that has given me so much.
P.S. I still want to try to get you back in that Jacksonville locker room. We will need you for the playoffs!
By Bobbi Blades on Nov 23, 2009
Thank you, Jon. Your messages are always an inspiration to me and your books and thoughts empowering.
By Maritza Rodriguez on Nov 23, 2009
I show my appreciation through the way I address people, by being kind and very polite. The people in my life are the ones I am thankful for and I show it by saying “Thank You”.
By Bob Mc. on Nov 23, 2009
Jon,
Thank you. You have touched my life, and possibly saved it in the process. You might say have given me the gift of the last Christmas tree on the lot.
Bob
By Oakland on Nov 23, 2009
I absolutely positively agree. Being grateful helps us refocus on lucky we really are.
By Jennifer Benson on Nov 23, 2009
A powerful message, Jon-thank you!!!
By Randy Bosch on Nov 24, 2009
Jon,
Thank you for sharing “yourself” through this blog. It is a lot of work, and it is of great value to those who are inspired by and/or challenged by and even those who occassionally might be antagonized by (a Cinderella problem - “if the shoe fits, wear it”) your thoughts.
I pray that you and yours may have a blessed, peaceful, thankful Thanksgiving.
By Matt Welsh on Nov 25, 2009
Jon,
Thank YOU! for writing this and allowing us to share it with others
By d Donahoo on Nov 29, 2009
My daughter is barely 13 yet I learn from her and thankful for all she teaches me daily. Today she thanked the mailman for bringing the mail. She thanked the Tupperware lady we won a gift from not only for the gift, but we offered to help her unload an IPod trailer full of tupperware into her new store and she thanked her for letting us help her. She thanked me for letting her rub my feet with lotion because they were hurting and thanked me for letting her bring me a cup of hot chocolate. She lives her life full of thankfulness and brightens everyone’s life she comes in contact with. She teaches me daily so many lessons-I’m thankful for an incredible child full of love and thankfulnessand so much more.