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

Question

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?

Answer 1

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).