Appreciation is a very powerful thing because it is part of the way in which one's consciousness refines itself and becomes more humble, more pliable and more receptive. Gratitude makes more trusting, more social, and more appreciative. As a result, it helps us make more friends and deepen our existing relationship. Gratitude makes you a more effective person, helps you network, increases your decision-making capabilities, increases your productivity and helps you get mentors and proteges.

Gratitude reduces feelings of envy, makes our memories happier to experience good feelings and to help us bounce back from stress.

Gratitude has been shown in multiple studies to make people more friendly, thus, grateful people have more social capital. This means that grateful people are actually more likely to receive help from others for no reason other than that they are liked and appreciated. Gratitude increases your recognition of benevolence.

At first you may not think that you have anything to say thank you for but as you start you will slowly begin to feel an immense gratitude for even the sense of being, for life and for existence. Thank you is the greatest mantra.

Regardless of how little their favours might be, always learn to say thank you to those that support you one way or the other. Even if you tell them "Thank You" and they dismiss it with a wave of the hand, never cease to tell them thank you whenever they show you some kindness. Never cease to say thank you to those that support you, when you do this, you are building your own success.

Sometimes, the people who stand in the way and create obstacles are actually helping the most because they confront you and force you to come up with your best, enabling you to become a greater achiever. Therefore, don’t limit the act of gratitude to those who’ve made your life easier in some fashion but show gratitude to the people who’ve made it harder for you in their way, they’ve helped you develop. To those who’ve challenged you or offered support, you can write long thank-you letters, short ones, or just tiny little notes.

An important ingredient in opening your heart and seeing life as it truly is a blessed and magnificent series of events is to consider your day. Reflect upon your blessings and express gratitude.

Set a time aside (possibly before going to bed) to consider what has occurred throughout the day. As you look back through the day’s events, consider which three individuals have served you well and made your life richer or more enlightened in some fashion. Write these individuals a message of gratutide from your heart, expressing your acknowledgment of the role they’ve played in your life and how their presence is of wonderful service to you.