Energising the concept of Gratitude

So, as we often do at the beginning of a New Year,  I was recently thinking through 'what do I want 2017 to be about?'. The word that sprang to mind was 'Gratitude'. Consequently, I have started to be more aware of being grateful each and every day, whether it is something large or small.

One of the exercises I have committed to engaging with is a daily gratitude diary. I have purchased a diary for this specific purpose and I use it to write down my thoughts on what I have been grateful for on that particular day. Okay, so I have missed a few days BUT when I do write things down I notice the immediate effect this has on how I am feeling, that is, I am more positive in my focus, more generally energised and motivated and I am starting to think about what else I can look forward to being grateful for.

This gratitude focus has also helped me to reflect on people I have been grateful for in my life as a whole, including family, friends and mentors. One of these mentors I recently decided to email and thank them for the wonderful help, support and learning that they had provided me as a young and inexperienced psychologist. This delightful person replied to my email and shared their positive and helpful memories of their time working with me many years ago. What a lovely gift to me. There is so much more for us to be grateful for when we allow ourselves the time to think and reflect on this simple idea.

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