Gratitude: An Important Factor in Satisfying Romantic Relationships

Happy and healthy long-term relationships take hard work, communication, and compromises. Another important factor in satisfying relationships may also be gratitude, shows a recent study. Learn how gratitude can affect your romantic relationships as well as how you can show your partner gratitude below.

Dr. Sara Algoe and her colleagues studied how the daily functions in relationships affect relationship satisfaction and connection for each partner in a couple. All of the couples that participated in this study were involved in committed, ongoing, and satisfying relationships. The researchers discovered that the small ups and downs of relationships were reliably noted by one partner's feelings of gratitude. Additionally, the researchers noted that the effects of gratitude on the relationship were still notable the day after the feeling of gratitude was expressed by one person in the partnership.

Given that expressing gratitude appears to lead to feelings of satisfaction, it seems important that partners show each other their gratitude for the things they do for one another. Here are some ways in which you can show your partner that you appreciate him or her in your romantic relationship.

Send a Thank You Card: I know this seems rather obvious, but oftentimes in romantic relationships, thank you cards fall by the wayside. Writing a heartfelt thank you card will definitely express your gratitude to your partner. It's not often anymore that we use snail mail to express our thoughts and feelings, so getting a card from you will be a great surprise for your partner. Even if you live in the same house or apartment as your partner, you can still surprise him or her with a thank you card in the mail. Just mail the card on your way to work or while you're running other errands.

Make Something Special: You could also make your significant other something special, such as his or her favorite dinner or dessert as a way of expressing your gratitude. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, but making something special for your partner will let him or her know how much you appreciate all that he or she does. For instance, if your partner takes the kids out to the park for the afternoon so you can have some quiet time to yourself to relax, perhaps the next night you can make your partner his or her favorite dessert to show your appreciation.

Give Compliments: We all like to hear nice things about ourselves. When you compliment your significant other on something special he or she did for you, it will let him or her know how much you appreciate him or her. For instance, if your partner makes you a special dinner to celebrate a promotion you received a t work, tell him or her how great the dinner is. If your spouse brings you flowers for no reason, remark on how beautiful the flowers are and how thoughtful he or she was to bring them to you. Giving your significant other a compliment on his or her acts of kindness will help them know how much gratitude you feel for him or her.

Tell Your Partner How He/She Affects Your Life: Another way you can show gratitude to your significant other is by telling him or her what he or she brings to your life. Sit down and make a list of positive things your significant other brings to your life, such as showing you patience, supporting you in tough times, and being thoughtful of you. Then, share this list with your partner, perhaps over a romantic dinner or in your favorite spot in nature. Your significant other will be very touched and will definitely feel appreciated by you.

Give Your Undivided Attention: Today, we are so busy, we often focus on more than one thing at a time. Thus, partners often do not get our undivided attention. You can show your appreciation of your partner by giving him or her your complete and undivided attention. If you sit down at dinner together, really listen to what your significant other is saying about his or her day rather than thinking about everything you need to accomplish at work this week or how messy the house is or worrying about that term paper you have due next week. Express interest in what your partner is saying by asking him or her questions about his or her thoughts, feelings, and experiences and being open about you thoughts, feelings, and experiences as well.

Tell Your Significant Other You Love Him/Her: This seems like a very simple idea, but once couples have been together a while, they may forget to tell each other that they love one another. Tell your significant other that you love him or her and really mean it. Put a post-it note on the mirror, saying you love him or her. Put a note in his or her lunch to say you love your partner. Your significant other will know how much you appreciate him or her when you tell your partner you love him or her often.

New research indicates showing gratitude to your partner helps keep feelings of satisfaction and connection alive in relationships. You may utilize these suggestions to show your gratitude for your significant other; they will certainly help your partner feel appreciated.

Sources:

Psych Central: Daily Appreciation Helps Romance:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/25/daily-appreciation-helps-romance/14044.html

Helium: Ways to Show Gratitude Beyond A "Tank You" Note:
http://www.helium.com/items/1289786-notes-cards-thank-you-gratitude-expression

Self Growth: 5 Ways to Show Appreciation In Your Relationship:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/5_ways_to_show_appreciation_in_your_relationship

Suite 101: 64 Ways to Say I Love You:
http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/60_ways_to_say_i_love_you