Gratefulness: The Secret to a Successful Relationship

Gratefulness is a subtle and simple quality that inevitably makes or breaks most relationships. Whenrelationships are new, gratefulness permeates every aspect of new found love. Gratefulness makes us excited to see the one we love. It makes us smile every time we see them. It makes us want to touch them, hold their hand, and kiss them. It directly adds passion to everything we do with them. This positive emotion inevitably leads our mate to feel admired, needed, respected and even loved. Thus gratefulness becomes a key cornerstone in the foundation of every new relationship.

Unfortunately, as relationships progress, many people often lose some of this natural enthusiasm and gratitude for their relationship. This does not necessarily mean you love your partner any less, but sub-consciously you might be sending the wrong signal to your loved one. In turn your spouse may reflect similar negative emotions and signals back to you through their own actions, inadvertently starting a vicious cycle of negativity. So as your relationship grows and matures, it usually becomes necessary to find new ways of expressing gratitude to your loved one if you hope to prevent ungratefulness from destroying your relationship.

Naturally, there is the direct way of being grateful, by telling your mate thank you whenever they do something for you. Yet true gratitude and appreciation can be shown in so many other forms too. Here are a few suggestions that can help improve your relationship:

• 1) Don't just tell your spouse you love them. Make sure you tell them frequently the many different reasons why you love them. Examples: She is a good mother, he is a good provider, they are loyal, they are patient, they are a great cook, etc.
• 2) Always respond positively to your spouse's touch or beckoning call; never act annoyed or too busy. Never sigh or groan or roll your eyes when your mate tries to engage you.
• 3) Fixing their things and helping them on needed projects will make them feel loved and appreciated.
• 4) Having a weekly date night lets your mate know you still value the time you share together.
• 5) Massages at times and places where sex is not an option shows unselfish love and appreciation.
• 6) Bragging to your friends and family about your spouse will reinforce the admiration you have for them.
• 7) Always include something about your spouse and family whenever giving a toast.
• 8) Value their opinion. Always ask for and consider their opinion in all important decisions.
• 9) Holding hands, caressing, stroking, touching, and other forms of non-sexual touching let your spouse know that they are loved and appreciated.
• 10) Hug your mate frequently and try to find time to embrace them for 10 or 15 minutes every day.

When expressed frequently in clear and direct manners, as well as sub-consciously through positive thoughts and actions, gratitude becomes a key building block to other important qualities and emotions that are found in all successful relationships. Your spouse can have no sense of appreciation, no feeling of being respected, and no feeling of being needed when you inadvertently give them the vibe or signal that you are ungrateful.

The truth is I could go on listing dozens of do's and don'ts about being grateful. In fact my book 199 Ways To Improve Your Relationships, Marriage, And Sex Life is really just a more complete list of suggestions that will make your spouse feel loved and appreciated. Yet in reality, only you can truly self-analyze your relationship and see where you are coming up short. Only you can begin to end the cycle of ungratefulness, if it now exists in your relationship. I truly hope this article will give you the knowledge and tools you need to start improving your relationship today.