We all have the potential to enjoy our lives more and interact with our co-workers collegially, yet we fail to use what’s available to us, and it is so simple.

How many of us jump out of bed in the morning with a big smile, looking forward to the day ahead? I would suspect that a large number experience that wonderful morning pleasure, but some may hash over what happened the prior day or not look forward to the future days, weeks, months, or even years.

It's unfortunate because we're not taking advantage of a significant chance to improve our mental and physical lives. I am writing about the power of gratitude and what it can bring to us in our circle, whether large or small.

One book, “The Psychology of Gratitude,” by Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough, examines the science behind gratitude and how it can improve our health. The writers examine several studies and research results to show how gratitude can help people and society.

Some good things that happen when you have traits of gratitude are better relationship satisfaction, happiness, prosociality, fewer physical illness symptoms, and less materialism and envy. As a result, is finding out how a person feels right after expressing or remembering gratitude is the first step in learning why and how gratitude exercises lead to positive and long-lasting change.

Positive emotions like gratitude should be especially motivating because they make people see things in a new way and encourage them to build up their intellectual, social, and physical resources. These emotions should also make people want to do good things or become better people.

What about your health? Is a positive, grateful attitude helpful? Can being upbeat keep you from getting heart disease? Research shows that having a positive view of life, such as being hopeful, happy, grateful, and having a reason for living, can help protect your heart. Researchers in the UK looked at over 8,000 people’s mental health and found that people who were optimistic and felt good about their lives had a 30% lower chance of getting heart disease.

While most studies on gratitude have shown positive results, there are a few notable exceptions. A study found that middle-aged divorced women who wrote in gratitude books were just as happy with their lives as those who didn’t. Another study found that sending a thank-you letter to someone who had helped them may have made that person happy, but it did not make the kids or teens feel better. This finding shows that being grateful is a skill that comes with becoming emotionally mature.

Nothing is 100% sure to get whatever you are seeking and, if you're thinking about becoming more involved in gratitude, there are things you can do to help yourself. A psychologist, Dr. Joel Wong, has provided a list of 100 questions or prompts to help you look at your life and where you might explore gratitude. We've provided the link here, and you can review it. I'm sure you are going to find things that you may gain, and they are incredible.

In the long run, is it possible to be too happy? Well, we would also ask the converse: Is it possible to be too miserable? Which would you choose? Try gratitude, start with Dr. Wong's prompts, and see how you do.

If you need a bit of help, begin keeping a gratitude journal (Canva has a number of them here). You can find templates for these journals online, and they're free, so take advantage and begin your new journey for happiness.