The secret to a better "Thank You"

How often do you say 'thank you' to someone during the day?

Probably a few times. But how often do you truly pause to express your gratitude to the person you're thanking in an intentional way?

If I'm honest about my answer, then I would admit that many times my 'thank you' rolls off my tongue as my mind is already off to its next destination. I say 'thank you' to be polite but I'm not truly present in the moment to feel genuine appreciation for the other person -- whether it's the woman at our local shop handing me my coffee or my husband helping put my new desk chair together.

I started to notice the shallowness of my 'thank yous" a few weeks back and decided to do something about it. Research shows that expressing gratitude to others is one of the most powerful ways to feel uplifted and more connected to people in our lives. But I didn't need research to tell me what I already knew: Gratitude only works if we are intentional about practicing it and sharing it with others.

In today's super-short Happier Boost video I'm sharing the tiniest shift I've made in how I thank people in the course of my days. It truly takes a few seconds but it's brought me more little moments of joy and connection. I hope you'll give it a try!