Happy: Finding joy in every day and letting go of perfect

Feeling gratitude – real, whole gratitude – comes in spontaneous waves when you’re on the edge of sheer bliss, where it feels only right to smile and beam a big THANK YOU for the simple things that lie in front of you.

Practising gratitude enables you to look through a magnifying glass at the things you know you feel lucky and happy to have, pulling out of focus the ‘lacking’ and ‘want’ and boosting the comfort and contentment you have in your current life.

At times, buying into the fantasy of having stuff and needing stuff helps us avoid looking at what is really going on in our lives on a deeper level. Being thankful for what we already have – whether material or otherwise – is always a good starting point.

If you feel you haven’t achieved enough, you haven’t lived enough, you AREN’T enough, then you’re only looking at a tiny piece of the puzzle that makes up the intricate and unique person that is you.

You’re illuminating the lack of certain moments and qualities in your life rather than scoping out the bigger picture.

Gratitude, when truly meant and practiced, allows us to highlight those basic things we may have overlooked that can be powerful enough to lift you out of a pretty blue place.

Why should we say thanks to people who have done us wrong and bruised us deeply?

Maybe those moments have taught you to not judge others so much.

It won’t make those terrible times disappear, but this thanks might just make living with them that bit more bearable.

getting down with nature is a really good, instant way to throw a bit of thanks around.

I write down my gratitude list, as putting pen to paper seems to help me focus even more acutely on the thanks I want to show.

I feel grateful for the tricky relationships I have with some people in my life as they continue to drive me to take a closer look at myself and how I can react better.

If you’re feeling down, noticing what you’re thankful for can help you recognise the good in the world.

Look for small things to appreciate each day,

THANK THE BAD STUFF.

Strangers or people who think completely differently to us can sometimes offer so much to our own lives. New thought processes, a fresh perspective or a new avenue to walk down.

Human connection creates love, positive revolutions, multiplied power and a web of courage and strength.

Sometimes we think we have to be tough and deal with situations on our own.

Shame is a dangerous feeling that blocks us from being able to share.

Allowing another to hear your story might change your perspective and the journey of your thoughts.