This is an area that I’ve really tried to work on and it comes up again and again in all the self-development books that I’ve read. The idea is to be happy with where you are, to repeat mantras and to meditate; all of these, I have tried to include in my daily routine. Although there are similarities between these two areas, you can split meditation and gratitude as follows:
Meditation: This is the ability to pause and observe the present moment and what is happening in you. This does not mean fighting off other thoughts but acknowledging them and seeing what is happening with your mind and body at that moment. This could take the form of breathing, scanning your body or simply observing things around you on a walk.
For meditation, this could mean a short practice beginning with a few minutes a day. maybe a couple of times per day. Personally, I find it works best when I do short spells of meditation, two or three times a day. It may seem like a difficult habit to develop at first but once you do regularly you will definitely see psychological and life benefits.
Gratitude: This is appreciating what you have, rather than what you don’t have. It can be really useful in preventing you from falling into the trap of always chasing something you don’t have yet, which inevitably will lead to more unhappiness. There is always something you can be grateful for, whether it’s the ability to walk, the ability to see, your family, your friends or a warm home. When we focus on what we have, rather than what we don’t, it increases positive feelings and therefore a better well-being.
Both of these areas really only take five minutes at a time: a small portion of anyone’s day. However, practising these areas regularly and fitting them into your routine, is vital. There is always time for the most important things and one of the, if not THE most important thing in life is to be happy.
Jonny Pardoe
Jonny Pardoe © January 2019
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Jonny Pardoe
