WHEN was the last time you said thank you?
As children, we were taught by our parents and teachers to say these two words for good manners and as part of our daily interaction.
And if we search online, we can find countless of content concerning how or when we should say thank you.
However, some might find it redundant to say this simple phrase all the time, to a point where they forget or neglect to express it when they’re supposed to.
In this case, not saying thank you would be considered rude and could upset or irritate others.
Thus, showing our gratitude should be more than just a habit and in fact, various studies have shown that there are tangible benefits to saying thank you.
For one, it can form and cultivate social relationships by building trust and decreasing aggression; when we convey our thanks, those receiving it will feel appreciated and respected for the actions they have taken for us.
Our acknowledgement also assures them that they are valuable and are not being taken for granted.
If they happen to be our colleagues, a sense of gratitude not only enhances our professional relationship with them, but also encourages them to be thankful and to help others in the future.
This in turn spreads positivity, which can boost productivity in the workplace.
Being grateful for us the giver has its merits as well. For instance, it enhances our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing because it lowers stress and drives positive thinking in our life and career.
This optimism enables us to boost our self-esteem; studies have suggested that people who are grateful tend to acknowledge accomplishments of others more than comparing with their own.
The higher our self-esteem, the greater our self-confidence and desire to be better ourselves, thus becoming more open to tackling new challenges and learning from them, whether we succeed or fail.
In that sense, saying thank you reflects how we carry ourselves as individuals. In the eyes of other, we might be perceived as people who are highly capable and motivated, at the same time humble and compassionate.
Still, it’s important to show genuine gratitude as people can be put off if they realise that your thank you is nothing more than a show of obligation.
So if you haven’t been expressing your gratitude as much as you should this year, make it a point to say more sincere thank yous in 2019. You’ll be sure to make others and yourself happy.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.