Is it us, or does no one say thank you anymore?! While being nice may be a lost art, it’s actually highly beneficial. “Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress. The disposition toward gratitude appears to enhance pleasant feeling states more than it diminishes unpleasant emotions. Grateful people do not deny or ignore the negative aspects of life,” says Robert A. Emmons, a leading researcher in the field of psychology of gratitude, and creator of the Thank You Project.
So why is being nice fading away into oblivion? Whether it’s our fast-paced society or a shift in our priorities as a culture matters not. Being nice should be high on our list of priorities, not only because it fosters collective niceness, but also because, according to the studies of folks like professor Emmons, it might actually be good for our health. So we’re fighting to keep proper etiquette alive and well, and here’s why.
1. Better health
Saying please and thank you are front and center when it comes to etiquette rules. Some say that uttering these words on a regular basis can reduce physical manifestations of stress.
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