A moment of gratitude,
World Mental Health Day.
As someone who for many years experienced depression and anxiety,
I could not let World Mental Health Day pass without making an episode about gratitude and mental health and wellbeing.
In life there is a lot of attention on the big things,
Exams,
Career and physical appearance for example.
But gratitude helps us to focus on the little things that we often take for granted and that really are the important things.
I remember a really bad day,
One of if not the worst I've had.
I remember not really knowing what to do so I made a cup of tea.
This was many years ago but I can remember that particular cup of tea very clearly because I remember really focusing on it,
Appreciating it and having gratitude for it.
That cup of tea was like a pinprick of light in the darkness.
It was one good thing to focus on despite everything else I could appreciate the joy of a good cup of tea.
Gratitude helps us to focus on the positive things in life and the more this becomes a practice or a routine,
The stronger those positives become.
The Harvard Medical School article in praise of gratitude states in positive psychology research gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.
It helps people feel more positive emotions,
Relish good experiences,
Improve their health,
Deal with adversity and build strong relationships.
One of the things that I have found since practicing gratitude is that once you notice something you keep on noticing it.
For example,
If you choose a beautiful flower as your moment of gratitude one day you may well find you begin noticing flowers more often when you are walking,
Be that in a garden,
A countryside walk or in a town centre display and each time you notice a flower that feeling of gratitude will accompany it.
I've used my social media to incorporate my gratitude practice into my life.
Every time I see a special flower or plant I take a picture on my phone and upload it.
This morning I took pictures of the autumn leaves on the trees and the berries on the holly,
Little moments of beauty in an urban area.
So maybe today take a picture of something that captures your interest.
You may choose to post it online or to set it as your phone's wallpaper or maybe just make a cup of tea or coffee.
Notice the small things,
The pinpricks of light in the dark,
This World Mental Health Day and every day.
