So many of us are seeking as many shots of dopamine as we can get right now, which makes starting a gratitude practice seem like a no-brainer. Experts have told us, time and time again, that doing so can positively affect our minds and bodies.

But what’s the best formula for success?

While there’s no one “right way” to do gratitude, we — Raj Punjabi-Johnson and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — asked Laurie Santos, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Yale and the host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast, her thoughts on infusing it into our lives.

One of her favorite methods? The tried-and-true gratitude letter.

“Write a letter to someone you’ve never thanked, who you really have been meaning to thank, [and be] as genuine and honest as possible,” Santos said. “Then [don’t] just write it, but go to their house and read this to them.”

Those who aren’t accustomed to emoting openly — in person, no less! — might be daunted by this kind of interaction. Saying “thank you” is one thing, but unleashing a verbal avalanche of gratitude might seem like a bit much.

However, it doesn’t need to be that dramatic. The letter can be simple and straightforward, and the visit can be a drive-by. It’s worth trying, though, because there’s real evidence that writing this letter and presenting it to someone in your life can have surprising benefits beyond that feeling good in the moment.

“Studies by folks like Martin Seligman and colleagues [describe] this in the context of what he calls a gratitude visit,” Santos told us. “You write a letter to thank someone and you show up and read it to them. He found that it can significantly boost your well-being for as long as somewhere between one to three months.”

One to three months. That’s how long some study participants reported feeling increased feelings of happiness and a decrease in depressive symptoms — aka a gratitude glow. Santos suspects that this “longstanding boost in your well-being,” at least in part, is due to three things happening simultaneously: a strong social connection, the act of doing something kind, and expressing your gratitude to someone.

Inspired yet? If you’ve never done something like this and fear coming off as awkward or “too emo” as Santos’ students suggested, consider focusing on authenticity.

“When we are in the expressing mode, we go too much into paying attention to our performance and not the emotion of how our performance is going to sound,” Santos said. “Just put words to paper and they will be received in the warm way that you intended.”

Santos urged us to think about this letter like a thank-you note — not necessarily long-winded or poetic (unless that’s your thing, which we don’t judge) but instead honest and aligned with your style of communication.

She also noted that this is true with other moments of connection as well.

“Research Nick Epley at the University of Chicago has this really important paper on what he calls ‘undersociality’ — that our bias is always to be a little bit less social than we should for our happiness and other people’s happiness,” Santos told us.

However, she urged us to fight against that because of the science that shows positive outcomes when we engage with people around us.

“Express that gratitude. Give that compliment. Ask someone for help, right? Give them the opportunity to do something nice for you. All these little moments of social connection, we think like, Oh, it’s going to be awkward or it’s going to inconvenience somebody or it’s not the right time or I don’t have the right words. No, just do it and then you’ll experience the benefits of it.”

Santos had a slew of other tips for filling your life with more gratitude — and its benefits, so click above to hear the full episode or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to “Am I Doing It Wrong?” on whatever podcast platform you prefer so you don’t miss a single episode from our brand-new third season. And check out some of our favorites, including how to apologize or vanquish your credit card debt; how to find love online or overcome anxiety; tips for online shopping, taking care of your teeth and pooping like a pro; secrets to booking and staying in a hotel; how to deal with an angry person; how to make friends as an adult; everything you need to know about protein; getting your best workout; taking care of your car; surviving a breakup; avoiding forever chemicals, plus much more.

You can also watch the full episode on YouTube.

For more from Laurie Santos, visit her official website and check out her podcast here.

Have a question or need some help with something you’ve been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.

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