What makes you happy? Is it a brand new car, a new pair ofshoes or a new friend? They say money can't buy happiness, butstudies show perhaps being grateful can. One recent study statedthat those subjects expressing gratitude were significantly moresatisfied with their lives compared to those not expressinggratitude. A 2009 study presented evidence for the neural basis forthis phenomenon, showing that gratitude stimulates the area of ourbrain responsible for the pleasure sensation and stress reduction.A British research firm found one smile provides the same level ofbrain stimulation as up to 2,000 chocolate bars! It has beendocumented that smiling reduces stress, increases health and lowersblood pressure. I am not recommending that you go around smilingevery minute, but staying focused on things you are grateful for inboth your professional and personal life can not only can increaseyour own happiness but can influence the mood of your co-workers orboss as well.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have even showna genetic predisposition toward expressed gratitude and subsequenthappiness. Other studies indicated that expressing gratitude canelevate the mood of those around you as well, revealing that thosewith a propensity to express anger reduced such propensity whenshown gratitude.

Of course we all want to be happy both at work and in ourpersonal life, but what benefits, other then feeling good, doeshappiness provide? A recent New York Times articlereported researchers at the University of Warwick recently showedhappy employees are on average 12% more productive than unhappyemployees, while unhappy employees are 10% less productive, thusresulting in a 22% productivity swing between unhappy and happyemployees. The study concluded that positive emotions appearto invigorate humans, and invigorated humans are more productive,work better in teams, are more creative and even have better timemanagement skills. Further physiological studies support thisphenomenon by showing that positive emotions actually enhance brainfunction. If being grateful improves happiness, and happinessimproves productivity, then the conclusion can be drawn that beinggrateful improves productivity. Following this logic, we can takeresponsibility for our own happiness and not be solely dependent onworkplace incentives by being grateful.