Gratitude - the thing that doesn't require you to have anything

Ahh gratitude my friend. When you are close life flows, fun and love are multiplied and joy is in abundance. It doesn't require equipment, spending, specialists, a particular place or time. Gratitude is within us and is something we need to tap into on a daily basis.

Emotional and spiritual are two of the pillars within the 8 pillars of wellness framework and for me the practice of Gratitude is a great way to strengthen both of them. When I don't drink enough water, move enough and nourish my body in the right ways, I feel lethargic and unmotivated as my physical pillar isn't being strengthened through my choices. It's the same feeling that comes when my spiritual and emotional pillars aren't being looked after - actually its the same feeling when any of the pillars aren't being supported, but back to gratitude.

There are so many things to be grateful for and I've found practicing gratitude is a great way for me to be in the now. And in the now - there are no problems (Eckhart Tolle Power of the Now book is a bit of an eye opener for this if you are interested in finding out more).

Gratitude is also a habit that we have to develop and I've found the trick is setting it into those daily tasks that we already are doing - generally on auto pilot. If you don't currently practice gratitude daily try incorporating one or two into your daily routine and you'll be feeling joy in no time.

• Next time you are brushing your teeth think of three things that make you smile.

• When you take the wheelie bin/recycling to the curbside - look around you and notice three things that you can see.

• When you are sitting at the traffic lights, think of three people/pets who you love.

• While you are waiting for the kettle to boil or the toast to pop think of someone from you past and a special time shared.

• As you wash your hands, notice some of the clever things your body does as it moves you around the day and the way the bubbles look on your hands.

• While you are sipping on that glass of water, think about how it arrived there are how it feels as it moves down inside your body.

Other ways to create a daily habit and to be fully focused on the joy of gratitude.

• Gather for meals together at the table and think about the person who made the meal, the food that's gone into the meal, the people of "created" the food and the earth that it has come from.

• At the end of each day before you snuggle down for sleep......or a wee bit of loving.....capture at least three things that day you are grateful for.

A warning with gratitude though - you will have less desire to "have things" and less desire to accumulate stuff. Experiences over expenses! When you take notice of everything you already have, you realise that you have everything you need to live a life that you actively participate and thrive in.

And also remember to be kind to yourself on those days you feel like there is nothing to be grateful for. Gratitude on those days comes in the form of knowing that this day will soon be replaced by a new one, with new experiences and opportunities to spark joy.

Nadine xx