How to express "thanks" when I am made to do something


How does one express thanks when made to do something. For example:

Thanks for making me realize the meaning of happiness - 幸せの意味を気づかせて（くれて）ありがとう

To me, it doesn't sound right because I feel that 気づかせて really means "making
me realize (against my will)". Is there a better way of saying this?




幸せの意味を気づかせてくれてありがとう is a perfectly natural sentence and it makes perfect
sense. Note that くれて is mandatory even in non-causative sentence;
お皿を洗ってくれてありがとう is fine but お皿を洗ってありがとう is not.

Japanese causative form (せる/させる) is not always forcible, and it can be
translated to "to make someone do ～", "to let someone do ～" or "to allow
someone to do ～". Examples of non-forcible せる/させる:

  * 大学に行かせてください。  
Please allow me to go to the university.

  * 子供に夜中までゲームをさせてしまった。  
I allowed my kid to play games until late at night (and it was my fault).

  * 彼には好きなことを言わせておけ。  
Let him say whatever he wants.

  * 眠そうだったから、そのまま寝させておこう。  
She looked sleepy, so let her keep sleeping.

  * 妻を事故で死なせてしまった。  
My wife was killed in an accident (and it was my fault).




幸せの意味を気づかせてくれてありがとう is a perfectly natural sentence and it makes perfect
sense. Note that くれて is mandatory even in non-causative sentence;
お皿を洗ってくれてありがとう is fine but お皿を洗ってありがとう is not.

Japanese causative form (せる/させる) is not always forcible, and it can be
translated to "to make someone do ～", "to let someone do ～" or "to allow
someone to do ～". Examples of non-forcible せる/させる:

  * 大学に行かせてください。  
Please allow me to go to the university.

  * 子供に夜中までゲームをさせてしまった。  
I allowed my kid to play games until late at night (and it was my fault).

  * 彼には好きなことを言わせておけ。  
Let him say whatever he wants.

  * 眠そうだったから、そのまま寝させておこう。  
She looked sleepy, so let her keep sleeping.

  * 妻を事故で死なせてしまった。  
My wife was killed in an accident (and it was my fault).

