Let’s face it: not all of us actually write thank you cards or notes after receiving a gift or a help from someone. Many people postpone it and then forget it. And is it really so surprising? After all, it’s just a formality - isn’t it?
Actually, it’s not. Writing thank you cards is not only a way for you to thank someone and to show them that you care - it’s also a way to improve not only the recipient’s mood but also your own one. And there’s more to it than just that. You’d be surprised by how much writing thank you cards can affect your health in a positive way.
1. You’d feel better psychologically.
The thing is not all of us clearly understand how great our lives are. People are different and some find it easier to focus on negative things rather than on positive ones. And it isn’t surprising: after all, many people remember pain and stress better.
But our lives aren’t about pain and stress only. If you’re writing a thank you card, this means that you are indeed grateful to someone for something - and that’s a thing worth noticing and cherishing. While this won’t eliminate all of your current problems, this could still help you feel a bit better.
2. You’d feel better physically.
Now, this might be surprising - but it’s true. The 2012 study showed that people that practiced gratitude actually complained about pains and illnesses less than people who didn’t. They also proved to be more capable of taking care of their health, finding time for physical and relaxing activities more often.
And while gratitude is not only about writing thank you notes, such activity is just as efficient as writing down thing you were grateful for during the day. Moreover, for some of us writing thank you notes might even be a lot easier than practicing gratitude as it is as such notes do have a clear purpose and the whole concept is easier to understand.
3. It could reduce the symptoms of mental illnesses.
According to the latest data provided by World Health Organization , over 300 million people from all over the world suffer from depression. That’s 4.4% of the whole world’s population - and it’s just as impressive as it’s sad.
Sure, depression, as well as other similar mental illnesses, could be treated effectively - but this process might take a while. And while writing thank you cards won’t cure you immediately, it could still quicken the whole process.
This happens because gratitude reduces stress - but not only because of that. When we write thank you cards, we not only acknowledge the good that happens in our lives but express our emotions - the positive one. And when we do that often, we basically train ourselves to spot good things. Even if this won’t lead to shifts in your mindset, this could help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety over time.
4. It helps strengthening relationships.
A thank you card isn’t always expected - so it could easily become a pleasant surprise for the recipient. But there’s more to it than just that. While you sit and write the note, you revive the feelings you had when received a gift or a help from a certain person. And if you don’t settle for a standard «thank you», you’ll need to find the words to convey your gratitude, to make them feel special and important to you.
Moreover, when a person receives your thank you card, they also feel pleased. They understand how grateful you actually are. And even though thank you cards are often viewed as a formality, when you decide to write one, you show that you care about a person enough to stick to this formality. Also, if you do your best to come up with a personalized text for the card, it won’t seem formal at all.
That’s why if you have an opportunity to write a thank you card to someone you care about, always do it. This could bring the two of you even closer - and that’s probably the most important part of it. But even the process of writing such cards and acknowledging good things in your life can affect you greatly as well, shifting your mindset and helping you feel better both mentally and physically.
While thank you card is not the most common way of practicing gratitude, it’s one of the easiest ones. And if you find yourself enjoying the process greatly, you could move on to the other gratitude practices that could benefit you even more.
Do you like writing thank you cards? Do you think they have an impact on your life? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
Author Bio:
Lori Wade is a content writer for EliteEssayWriters who is interested in a wide range of spheres from education and online marketing to entrepreneurship. She is also an aspiring tutor striving to bring education to another level like we all do. If you are interested in writing, you can find her on Twitter or Google+ or find her on other social media. Read and take over Lori’s useful insights!