编者按 美国加州伯克利大学的心理学中心有一项针对幸福和感恩的研究项目“Greater Good in Action”，而书写感谢信是其中一种培养感恩（gratitude）的训练方法。在这个感恩季，我们不妨按以下方法试着写一封真挚而不客套的感谢信吧。
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY IT
Feeling gratitude can improve health and happiness; expressing gratitude a原由网lso strengthens relationships. Yet sometimes expressions of thanks can be fleeting and superficial. This exercise encourages you to express gratitude in a thoughtful, deliberate way by writing—and, ideally, delivering—a letter of g//www.58yuanyou.comratitude to a person you have never properly thanked.
WHY IT WORKS
The letter affirms positive things in your life and reminds you how others have cared for you—life seems less bleak and lonely if someone has taken such a supportive interest in us. Visiting the giver allows you to strengthen your connection with her and remember how others value you as an individual.
HOW TO DO IT
Call to mind someone who did something for you for which you are extremely grateful but to whom you never expressed your deep gratitude. This could be a relative, friend, teach原由网er, or colleague. Try to pick someone who is still alive and could meet you face-to-face in the next week. It may be most helpful to select a person or act that you haven’t thought about for a while—something that isn’t always on your mind.
Now, write a letter to one of these people, guided by the following steps.
- Write as though you are addressing this person directly (“Dear ______”)
- Don’t worry about perfect grammar or spelling.
- Describe in specific terms what this person did, why you are grateful to this person, and hopSKQjsFEw thi//www.58yuanyou.coms person’s behavior affected your life. Try to be as concrete as possible.
- Describe what you are doing in your life now and how you often remember his or her efforts.
- Try to keep your letter to roughly one page (~300 words).
Next, you should try if at all possible to deliver your letter in person, following these steps:
- Plan a visit with the recipient. Let that person know you’d like to see him or her and have something special to share, but don’t reveal the exact purpose of the meeting.
- When you meet, let the person know that you are grateful to them and would like to read a letter expressing your gratitude; ask that he or she refrain from interrupting until you’re done.
- Take your time reading the letter. While you read, pay attention to his or her reaction as well as your own.
- After you have read the letter, be receptive to his or her reaction and discuss your feelings together.
- Remember to give the letter to the person when you leave.
If physical distance keeps you from making a visit, you may choose to arrange a phone or video chat.
Source: ggia.berkeley.edu
