Happiness can seem illusive sometimes, especially during hard times. But there’s a surprisingly accessible pathway to contentment, joy and positivity: gratitude. Studies demonstrate gratitude is associated with all kinds of goodies like life satisfaction, health, wellbeing and happiness.
Both gratitude and happiness also have genetic components. Your choices matter, and interestingly, they may also be in your DNA.
Ironically, seeking happiness itself can make you less happy. ecause running after happiness focuses you on what you don’t have—always pursuing something that reminds you it’s not already in your possession. On the other hand, when you cultivate gratitude, it tends to result in greater happiness. Here’s why:

1. RELATIONSHIPS
This was significantly based on the way gratitude affected human relationships. People tend to feel more positively about themselves and others when they express gratitude and hear expressions of gratitude. This has to do with the positive social meanings we ascribe to gratitude. When people heard someone express gratitude, they were more likely to conclude they could form a meaningful relationship with the person.

2. EXPERIENCES
Gratitude and happiness are also related in terms of how we spend our time and money. When people completed positive reviews about experiences, they were more likely to express happiness—more so than when they completed reviews about purchases. Appreciating experiences requires deeper processing to reflect on and relive the event, and when events are positive this can in turn cement happiness.

3. GIVING BACK AND GIVING VOICE
Gratitude inspires happiness, but it also inspires the intention to contribute to happiness in the community.
The expression of gratitude—giving voice to it—also tends to predict greater happiness. The more people expressed their gratitude—consciously thinking about and writing down what they appreciated—the more likely they were to also report feelings of happiness.

4. A GENETIC COMPONENT
Happiness is partially the result of a genetic predisposition—in addition to situations and choices. When people have the “gratitude gene”, they report being more grateful for their marriage partner. They also say they trust their partner more, are more forgiving and more satisfied with their marriages. Your choices matter to your gratitude and happiness, but there’s also a gene for that.