1. It gives you a more positive outlook

Being grateful can make you a far more positive and optimistic person. According to a study from the University of Miami, people who wrote down things they were thankful for were proven to have a more optimistic outlook on life, while those who only wrote down negative or neutral things were significantly less optimistic.

2. It makes you and others more productive

When working somewhere that they feel appreciated, employees have been found to work around 50% harder than when they feel that they are being taken for granted.

3. It strengthens your relationships

All any wife or husband wants is to feel that everything they do, even the tiniest act of kindness, doesn't go unnoticed. By thanking your partner for the things they d for you, you will be able to ensure that your marriage remains healthy and happy, ensuring high levels of satisfaction all round.

4. It improves your sleep

When you doubt yourself or have negative thoughts, you might often find that it is hard to get to sleep. This is why it should come as no surprise that focusing on the positives in your life will have a positive impact on the quality of your sleep. Simply jot down a list of things you're thankful for before you hit the sack, and get ready to experience a good night's sleep.

5. It helps you love yourself

Nowadays, people have a major tendency to compare themselves to others in every way possible. However, a grateful person will drastically reduce the harmful effects that making such comparisons can have. In fact, a study from Indonesia's Bina Nusantara University proved that grateful people are more satisfied with their own lives and make fewer comparisons to others than ungrateful people do.

6. It helps you make friends

Researchers from the University of New South Wales have found that people are more likely to want to become friends with you if you thank them for something. This is because expressing gratitude is “a valuable signal that you are someone with whom a high-quality relationship could be formed,” according to study author Lisa Williams.

7. It helps you cope with trauma

A number of different studies have proved that gratitude can help you overcome psychological trauma far more easily. Scientists believe that persons who regularly express their gratitude will suffer a lot less from conditions such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) since they will be able to focus less on the traumatic events themselves.

8. It makes you less materialistic

If you find yourself pursuing money and possessions over your well-being and relationships, then you could be heading down a very dark and slippery path. Luckily, adding a bit of gratitude into the mix can help turn your life around by making you more positive and willing to appreciate what you have instead of yearning for what you want.

9. It boosts your willpower

In order to successfully resist temptation, you need to start by being grateful. This is because gratefulness and patience go hand in hand, which helps to explain why grateful people are a lot more patient in social situations, avoid impulse buying, and are able to curb cravings to a greater extent.

10. It gives you a healthy heart

According to a paper published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice, a grateful heart is a healthy heart. The researchers found that higher levels of gratitude resulted in lower levels of cardiac inflammation, and were also able to produce healthier heart rhythms in patients with heart failure.