Gratitude – A Natural Happiness Dose!
“நன்றி மறப்பது நன்றன்று” – Thirukkural, Kural 108 (“Forgetting a good deed done is not good.”)
Yesterday, I was typing a good morning message as usual. But, it being 1st May, I happened to see a few messages on May Day, wishing the workers!. I was just taken into the thoughts about Latha, who cooks for our family, and Laskhmi, who does all the cleaning and washing(also she is the one watering our plants). If Latha is taking leave for more than a day, it becomes a big task for me to do all the kitchen work! In the same way, if Lakshmi is not coming for more than one or two days, that’s all. Our house becomes a mess, and it’s a nightmare for me to sweep and mop the floor!
Ok, is it only these two?
Milk man has to give the milk daily, the provision store person has to deliver things at home whenever we call for some items, the dhobi, the scavenger, the postman(nowadays Amazon delivery persons!), the automan, the beautician(not just for makeup, for maintaining our skin), the tailor, the people at the restaurant where we go for dinner, … Do you think the list will end here?
These are all a few who are working for us, for our wellbeing and happiness. Only a very few I have listed that too whom we know in person. There are many, many more people who are working for us whom we do not even know. The shoes you are wearing, a cobbler from some other country somewhere sitting in the globe might have stitched that, what do you say?
You just take a paper and pencil and list down all those who are involved in the one-time meal you are having. Why, for one meal, just for one glass of milk you drink. Write down, please! Or for the one dress you are wearing. Try to list out all those who directly or indirectly work for that! Sincerely do this please!!
As a sample, let us see who are all behind my single cup of coffee! What do you need for that? Milk, Coffee powder, sugar, and a cup, right!
Milk – the cow man taking care of the cow and milking,
- the farmer who plants the grass for the cow, the other cattle feeds like oil cakes manufacturer and the people involved in that work, the manufacturer of the machinery and the people involved in preparing the oil cakes,
- the people who collect the milk from dairy farms, usually using sterile, refrigerated containers. People who are involved in the transportation of chilled milk in insulated tankers to a dairy processing facility. People who are involved in various processes like filtration, clarification, standardisation, homogenisation, packaging, cold storage, in precessing the milk and then in distribution.
- Now, the people in the production of trucks used for transportation and their raw material production, shipping, and the people involved in the production of machinery for all the processes involved in processing the milk.
- Wholesale dealer, the retailer, the one who is distributing the milk to our houses… Oh my god, is it not breathtaking?
- We missed the manufacturer of the covers used for packing the milk, the raw material for that, the people involved in the entire process of manufacturing, distributing,….
Do you think this is the exhaustive list of people working behind getting a milk packet at our doorstep? Slow down and think for a while!
The vessel we are using to boil the milk, again a big chain of people, right!
Similarly, if we take coffee powder, I think you can understand the volume of work and the huge number of people who work for that, starting from the coffee estate to production to wholesale to retailer!! What about sugar? The cup! Include the one who prepares coffee for you!
So, for us to get a cup of coffee in our hands, lakhs and lakhs of people are working. Can you see this?
Is it not essential for us to be grateful to The Existence and each and every unit in it for conspiring to fulfill all our wishes!
Yes, we need to be grateful for everything and show gratitude to everyone who works for us directly or indirectly! But, how?
There are a few suggestions for practicing gratitude!
- Say thank you for at least 3 things daily (you can very well keep a “gratitude journal”).
- Express thanks face-to-face or through handwritten notes/SMS.
- Appreciate even small things (food, home, family – we take it for granted, right?).
- Practice meditation and affirmations (e.g., “I am blessed”).
At the same time, check yourself whether you express gratitude sincerely. Don’t ever express gratitude insincerely. You will get the feeling of gratitude automatically if you don’t focus only on flaws and notice the positives. One more thing, don’t delay in showing appreciation or gratitude.
If you follow these, then you will understand “Gratitude is A Natural Happiness Dose!”
Not emotionally or for sentiment, I am telling this. There is real scientific evidence behind this statement, which I give at the end of this post. Please see that if you are inquisitive to know!
For those who feel I don’t know anything about this oxytocin or dopamine or the hypothalamus in the brain, I can tell you in simple words: Expressing gratitude will give mutual happiness in every relationship, for example, if you give your pen to your friend when she needs it, she will be happy. If she says thank you for that, you will also be happy, right? It is as simple as that!
Express your gratitude to everyone and everything, that too without delay, and be Happy always!
Scientific evidence behind “Gratitude is A Natural Happiness Dose“:
Gratitude is a powerful psycho-emotional state that stimulates the release of oxytocin in the brain. This hormone enhances feelings of happiness, bonding, and trust.
- Stimulates Oxytocin Release
- A 2015 study published in Neuroscience found that expressing gratitude activates the hypothalamus in the brain, increasing oxytocin release.
- Psychological Science (2014) showed that individuals practicing gratitude had elevated levels of social bonding hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin.
- Reduces Stress
- Psychosomatic Medicine (2019): Gratitude lowers cortisol (a stress hormone), thereby enhancing oxytocin function.
- Improves Heart Health
- American Journal of Cardiology (2020): Practicing gratitude reduces blood pressure and increases oxytocin levels, benefiting cardiovascular health.
You might get a question in your mind now, how Does Gratitude Boost Oxytocin?
Gratitude triggers the release of dopamine and oxytocin, leading to:
- Activation of the hypothalamus in the brain.
- Stabilization of heart rate and promotion of calmness.
- Strengthening of social bonds.
Comments (9)
Govindaraj
This is a beautiful thought, and the message it carries is truly powerful. Often, we underestimate the impact of two simple yet magical words: Thank you and Sorry.
We tend to hesitate when it comes to saying “thank you,” especially within our families. It’s often seen as too formal or unnecessary. And if we do say it, someone might respond with, “Why are you being so formal?” But gratitude should never be restricted. We should make it a habit to acknowledge and appreciate every person and every effort—no matter how big or small—with a sincere “thank you.”
Likewise, the word “sorry” is just as important and just as underused. Whether the mistake is intentional or not, big or small, simply saying “sorry” can make a huge difference. It softens hearts, eases tension, and can prevent countless unnecessary arguments.
From my time in the U.S., I’ve learned something very meaningful: people greet even strangers with a warm “Hi” and a smile, often followed by “How are you?” Even if they don’t wait for a reply, the gesture alone spreads positivity. I’ve personally felt the uplifting effect of this small act of kindness.
If you’re not comfortable speaking to strangers, that’s okay. But at the very least, make eye contact and offer a genuine smile. You never know how much of a difference it can make—for them and for you.
Let’s make kindness a daily habit. A little warmth, gratitude, and humility can go a long way in making the world a better place. Spread love.
Vijaya Kalavakonda
Excellent 👌
A.Vijayalakshmi
A truly eye-opening reminder to honour the unseen hands behind every small comfort. Really an amazing deep analysed thing. Thank you for sharing this wonderful content madam.
M. Rubitha
Dear Mam, and I’m genuinely impressed reading your blog on gratitude, how well you combined scientific insight with emotional depth. The way you explained the connection between gratitude and oxytocin was not only enlightening but also inspiring. Thank you for shedding light on how something as simple as being thankful can have such profound effects on our brain, emotions, and even heart health. Keep writing and inspiring!
Pramod Kumar Yadav
Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have, instead of always reaching for something new in the hope it will make them happier, or thinking they can’t feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice.
Here are some ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis.
Write a thank-you note. You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter or email expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself.
Pramod Kumar Yadav
Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual.
Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you’ve received each day.
Count your blessings. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you.
Pray. People who are religious can use prayer to cultivate gratitude.
Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as “peace”), it is also possible to focus on what you’re grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).
Dr.P.S.Latha Mageshwarii
Nice mam. Thank you for making us to understand that we need to be thankful to all the units in this universe. Every unit in this universe including human beings helping us to live a comfortable life. But we need have a feeling of relationship with them and we need to be thankful for those units to enriching us. My sincere gratitude to you for giving me thought insights to be thankful to everyone.
Siva Shankari
Dear Mam,
The blog is excellent. Very well given your thought flow towards gratitude. This is the one thing which present generation fails to do. As a mother I really expect some appreciation for the work I do for them. But I felt unhappy when they never say thank you or sorry . This is the feeling which we need to inculcate in both adults and children. As you said it will surely gives us happiness. Thank you for your eye opening blog mam. Keep rocking
Padmini Chandeasekaran
Thank you, the golden words that will gladden the hearts of the person it is addressed to. There are any number of people one has to be grateful for on a single day. One has to remember that those who work for us get paid. Payment, by itself is a form of gratitude. A note of appreciation would naturally bring a smile of pleasure and appreciation.
But think of the help rendered by family members esp. Parents or elders who take care of your family by rendering help when we most need it… who render help without expecting in return? Do we say thank you to them at least once in a while or do we take them for granted?
It is to be noted that often, being grateful to someone sits heavily on us. To be perpetually grateful can even turn you against the person you have served. In 1971 India helped in the setting up of Bangladesh. After a short period of gratitude and thankfulness the worm has turned and we are seeing the results today. It is very grateful and thankful for long periods for service rendered.
Hence on a broader sense it is better to do one’s duty and feel proud of what you have done rather than expect or offer gratitude. A mere word or note of appreciation can bring momentary happiness but to find out the needs of the other and help in the welfare of the other would go a long way towards harmony, peace and subsequent happiness.