Practising gratitude daily

Gratitude. It's not just about the formalities of saying please and thank you. It's a daily ritual. It's a practice I've bought into in the past 6 months and, despite it sounding a bit phoney-therapy, it's a good thing.

You see, when you look at what you have - a comfy bed, a roof over your head, supportive friends, ways of getting around - you begin to realise you actually have enough.

Don't get me wrong, I was the ultimate consumer 5 or 6 months ago.

But therapy and reading - deep reading of self-help books - has seen me look inwards and outwards and recognise that having enough is enough.

I am grateful for being in great physical health; I am healing again psychologically; I have taken to Manchester like a duck to water. I have a nice apartment here, good neighbours, an active social life and massively supportive friends.

There are aspects of my life I would like to see improve - but instead of worrying about these matters (when did worrying ever create solutions?) I am thankful for everything I have in life here.

Enough is enough.

It wasn't always the case. My teaching career saw me chase promotions. I would say yes to any web or writing projects that were offered to me in recent freelance years.

But maturity has perhaps come late in new circumstances and now I don't chase; I don't automatically say yes; I'm not instantly available to answer an email or WhatsApp any more.

I've recognised, at 58, that I have a lot to be grateful for and that enough really is enough.

Like mindfulness, thankfulness is a bit of a game changer:

• I sleep better
• I exercise more - walking is free remember
• I appreciate friends more - and have deliberately removed those who don't lift me up
• I eat well - both at home and when out
• I show appreciation for others who are there for me
• I write down positive things daily in my journal
• I engage with nature when out
• I have random conversations with people when out
• I consciously and freely help others with no expectation of payment or payback

I think everyone can benefit from making an effort to practice gratitude every day. Just 3 steps can help you start feeling more grateful, and appreciative of the good things in your life:

1. Notice good things, look for them, appreciate them.
2. Savour, absorb, and really pay attention to those good things.
3. Express your gratitude to yourself, write it down, or thank someone.

After all, being positive about life is much better than anger, negativity and moaning about things.

Do you practise gratitude?