Knowing how to say thank you is considered a virtue within everyone’s reach. However, this is not the case. Some people may unknowingly never feel grateful. Others know they should say thank you, but simply can’t for fear of revealing an emotion of sensitivity they believe to be a weakness.

So how do we teach these people to say thank you? What if we’re one of those people who doesn’t know how to say thank you? Let’s find out why, what the consequences are and what you can do about it.

Not knowing how to say thank you: the reasons for our blockage

There’s no denying that not everyone knows how to say thank you. Acknowledging this is the first step towards understanding why we are blocked when it comes to saying thank you.

SELF-CENTEREDNESS
Indeed, when we put ourselves before others, and when we consider that there are no finer things than ourselves, saying thank you becomes extremely difficult. Why not? Why should we, when we think we’ve succeeded through our own efforts, without anyone else’s help, and are therefore the only ones to admire, appreciate and, above all, thank? Saying thank you then becomes a futile, demeaning act that we feel we owe no one.

THE ABSENCE OF RECOGNITION PREVENTS US FROM KNOWING HOW TO SAY THANK YOU
The word “thank you” is more than just a polite greeting. In fact, it’s used above all to express gratitude to others. In this sense, being able to say thank you requires the ability to perceive the good intentions addressed to us. Unfortunately, some people simply can’t feel these attentions. Isolation and an anti-social character may be the reasons.

FORGETFULNESS AND INATTENTION
Silly as it may be, forgetfulness can also prevent us from saying thank you. This time, it’s not a question of knowing or not knowing how to say thank you, but of a carelessness that – over time – becomes more and more important.

SHAME AND FEAR OF OTHERS
Some people simply don’t know how to react to their loved ones’ expressions of affection. A feeling of embarrassment overcomes them, preventing them from uttering a single word. Saying thank you then becomes a great difficulty, as shame takes over from gratitude and the joy of receiving.

Discovering these reasons means working on ourselves and getting to the root of everything that holds us back from showing our gratitude. Once identified, the reason that prevents us from saying thank you will take the form of a barrier, but this time it will seem surmountable.

Knowing how to say thank you and reaping the benefits

Why say thank you? Quite simply, to enjoy the benefits of returning the favor to those who have gone out of their way to please us. Indeed, we feel a sense of satisfaction when we thank someone for the help they’ve given us. Regardless of the scope and scale of the act, saying thank you always brings a sense of fulfillment. Saying thank you is good for the person who does it. For the inner peace it brings, let’s try to thank those around us more often.

Apart from the good it does for us personally, another benefit of saying thank you is a better relationship with those around us. Indeed, by thanking them, we forge solid relationships with those close to us. It will then be easier for us to open up to others, because we are among those who know how to say thank you. When this word comes from the heart, it’s impossible not to feel joy and appreciation for our benefactor.

Learning how to say thank you

Saying thank you seems easy at first, but when we develop certain difficulties in doing so, we need to question ourselves and decide to fight ingratitude.

RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU
This is the first thing to do. Some people don’t say thank you because they don’t know when to say it. In any case, you don’t need heroic deeds from those around you to say thank you. You need to say thank you for the little things that make your heart burn. So say thank you when you feel appreciated for who you are. You should also thank the people who bring you comfort when you need it. In the same vein, when you feel that someone is listening to you without judging you, when someone forgives you… that’s the time to say thank you.

CULTIVATE GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION TO KNOW HOW TO SAY THANK YOU
Without these two feelings, it’s impossible to say thank you. To feel gratitude, you first need to identify the gestures that deserve recognition. To do this, make a list of the people you need to thank and the reasons why. At the earliest opportunity, say a big thank you and let them know why you’re doing it. By doing so, you raise your vibratory frequency, which is bound to attract good vibes your way. Your joy will then be felt by those around you, and you’ll spread good cheer all around you. Quite simply, because you’ve been able to show gratitude to those close to you. Be careful, though, because saying it too often can lead our guests to believe that we always expect more of them.

Now that we’ve taken the time to think, it’s time to act and take charge of our lives. Thinking about the fact that we don’t know how to say thank you and admitting it isn’t enough. Now we have to take action and do everything we can to finally be able to say thank you without forcing ourselves.