Expressing gratitude can help you sustain a good relationship with your partner(University of Georgia, 2015)

Point

Here's what the study found.

• Couples who appreciate each other value marriage as a higher quality one.
• Expressing gratitude also reduces the likelihood of divorce.
• Expressing gratitude is especially useful for couples who are inconstant quarrel.
• The important thing is to have your partner aware that you are grateful.
  The level of awareness directly influences your partner's feelingstoward their marriage, their commitment to the marriage, and how longthey want to continue their marriage.

Tips for practicing this technique

Let's start by having a sense of gratitude.If you have a hard timefeeling gratitude, try practicing it.Gratitude is something you canhave with practice.Moreover, no hard training is required.As youpractice being grateful, it becomes a natural habit.One way to do thisis to write a thank-you diary.Before you go to bed at night, rememberwhat happened that day and write down any things you appreciate.Onestudy reported that people who write thanks diaries exercise moreoften and visit the doctor less ofter than people who arefrustrated.Experts suggest that keeping a daily gratitude journal is agreat way to improve your health.

However, many people may feel it difficult to write a diary everyday.If that's the case, I also recommend that you embrace gratitudeduring your daily meditation. During the meditation, focus onsomething that evokes gratitude.Remember what happened that day thatyou should be thankful for, and feel the gratitude in your heart.Ifyou try it out, you'll find that your heart becomes more and morecalm.

Once you've sprouted gratitude, the next important thing is how youcommunicate it.The recommended method is to express gratitude whilelooking at your partner's eyes.Expressing your gratitude in a sinceremanner will make it easier for your partner to feel your gratitude.Theimpression will change greatly with a little difference, so pleasegive it a try.

Introduction of the research

Summary of the research

In the survey, 468 couples were asked about the quality of marriageand how to express their gratitude to each other.The results show thatthe more you express your gratitude, the better the quality of therelationship you build.A good marital relationship was promoted byappreciating each other, even when the couple was facing some stressor difficulty.

Also, “demand / withdraw” communication is mentioned as one of theparticularly dangerous negative patterns.In “demand / withdraw”communication, one side demands, argues, and criticizes while theother withdraws and avoids the conflict.Interactions where the wifedemands it and the husband withdraws it are common in marriedcouples.However, the study found that financial distress couldincrease the total amount of demand / withdraw interactions for bothpartners, which could result in diminished quality of the maritalrelationship.Even when a couple is in a negative confrontationalpattern, such as demand/withdraw, communicating appreciation canoffset or buffer the negative effects of this type of interaction.

Many couples have disagreements.And couples who are under such stresstend to quarrel more.It seems that the key factor that separatesmarriages that last and those that don't is not how often they argue,but how they treat each other on a daily basis.

My view on this research

There are many other benefits to being thankful.You can't feelnegative emotions like fear, anger, or anxiety when you're grateful.Itis said that being grateful makes a person more resistant to stress,lightens their spirits, reduces anxiety, and helps them to sleepbetter.
It has also been found to have positive effects on the heart.A studyof nearly 200 heart failure patients found that patients with stronggratitude had the following benefits over those with weakgratitudeHeart failure in these patients is said to be at stage B, andprogressing to the more serious stage C increases mortalityfivefold.When you take that into account, it's no exaggeration to saythat having a feeling of gratitude saves lives.

• Feel good
• Sleep well
• Less fatigue
• Less inflammation that worsens heart failure

What's more, scientific studies have shown that gratitude helps tobalance various body systems.For example, the followingneurotransmitters and hormones work in balance, and blood pressure andblood sugar levels are controlled.Gratitude has many positive effects,not only mentally, but physically as well.

• Serotonin and noradrenaline (a neurotransmitter that acts on emotionsand feelings)
• Testosterone (reproductive hormone)
• Oxytocin (social hormone)
• Dopamine (a neurotransmitter related to cognition and pleasure)
• Cytokines (anti-inflammatory and immunity)
• Cortisol (stress hormone)