November 12th, 2025
By Maryann Baldwin, The Works Business Coach and SBDC Counselor
We talk a lot about the benefits of expressing gratitude (and if you need a reminder, check out our article on those benefits here: https://www.theworksconnect.com/post/slow-down-give-thanks). While you've likely heard some of these before, and maybe even practice some of, we think there are some new ones here that could spark a new practice in your life and bring you even more joy around the abundance in your life.
Let's have a look at 10 effective ways to show gratitude:
1. Say Thank You: A simple, sincere "thank you" can go a long way in expressing appreciation for someone's help, kindness, or presence. Easy peasey, let's make sure we say thank you many times each day!
2. Write a Handwritten Note: A personal, handwritten note or letter of thanks shows thoughtfulness and effort, making your gratitude feel more genuine. Find a local maker who creates pretty, creative or unique note cards to give your note an extra flare. You're thanks will be memorable and you'll support a local creator too!
3. Give Compliments: Recognize and acknowledge someone's talents, efforts, or achievements with a sincere compliment. Again, doesn't cost a dime, and makes a priceless impact on the recipient.
4. Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down things you are grateful for each day. Reflecting on them regularly helps cultivate a positive mindset. Don't like paper? Open up your Notes app on your smart phone and start a list. It's a great way to kill some time when you are waiting for something without doom scrolling social media!
5. Offer to Help: Actions speak louder than words. Show gratitude by offering your time, skills, or assistance to someone in need.
6. Publicly Acknowledge Someone: Whether in a meeting, on social media, or in a group setting, publicly acknowledging someone’s efforts can make them feel valued and appreciated. Who can you recognize today???
7. Pay it Forward: Gratitude can inspire you to spread kindness. Do something thoughtful for someone else as a way to pass along the positivity. Take a look at the person behind you in line - if it looks like something you can afford, pay it forward!
8. Listen Attentively: Show gratitude by being present and giving someone your full attention, showing that you value their thoughts and feelings. Take a deep breath and hold your thoughts for later. Sometimes we're too anxious to express our opinion. Try this once or twice a week and see if it gets easier over time.
9. Give a Thoughtful Gift: A small, meaningful gift can be a physical token of appreciation for someone’s kindness or support.
10. Practice Gratitude Meditation: Focus on people and things you are grateful for in your meditation, sending positive thoughts and energy to them as a form of mental appreciation. Even if you don't make a physical list, create a list in your mind and keep returning to it. Again, we typically have much more abundance in our world than we believe. Stop letting the world tell you what you don't have and focus on what you do - it can completely change your outlook.
Hopefully you picked up a couple of new practices here to try out this month and to work on in the weeks and months to come. And if we haven't told you lately, The Works is grateful for you, your talents and your contributions to the world. Keep 'em coming!
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