Reasons to be grateful

If you do decide to make some New Years Resolutions or decided, failed and are remaking them (it happens) then I would like to suggest one that could be incredible useful for you and your families emotional and psychological Well being.

Why not resolve to set up and use a gratitude jar or book. It could be something just for you or something you do as a family.

If you do it personally then get yourself a lovely notebook and pen and keep it by your bed.

Step 1 -Every night before you go to sleep sit down and think about what things you could be grateful for that day. Write them in your note book.

It could be anything as simple as having a delicious meal or that your car got repaired on time  did not cost an arm and a leg. Equally you could list some more astounding things such as winning new business or getting a promotion. You can always find something to be grateful for.

Step 2 -Every morning, when you get up, the first thing you do is read what you wrote the night before. It will set up your day in a positive way.

The positivity then just builds up for you all year. It trains you to celebrate all your successes rather than focus on all the negatives in your life. It can help change your whole outlook on life.

The whole family could do the above notebook suggestion and learn to be grateful collectively.

Or each of you gets a notebook with tear out pages . Then get the children and yourself to write down what you are grateful for and put them in the jar, you could do this on a daily basis or a weekly basis.
Or can just do it as and when things come up.

At the years end you cold as a family tip out the jar and review the years bounty. It can be quite a joy.
You can also look at the jar filling up and visually count your blessings. Many of those old cliches do really have a value.

There is so much doom and gloom around at the moment that it is very easy to forget how lucky we are and how much we all actually have.

This technique is particularly useful for those of us who suffer from low mood or low self esteem. You will be able to quieten that negative voice in your head and turn up the volume of the celebratory, positive one.

We all have many reasons to be grateful so really see and learn them.