Happy New Year! I wonder how many of us are already berating ourselves for not keeping our New Year’s resolutions? We are never as kind to ourselves as we are to others. If a friend or relative had “fallen off” the resolution waggon we would be sympathetic and supportive and yet we feel the need to reproach ourselves for what we consider to be a failure. We are all good enough and doing the best we can with what we have so let’s learn to celebrate our personal achievements however big or small. Try a short gratitude practise, either every morning before getting out of bed or last thing at night before switching off the light… or any other time of the day that suits. Just think of five things that you are grateful for, no matter how small. Research has shown the benefits of this and it is very hard not to feel uplifted when we can appreciate something that we usually take for granted. A cup of tea/coffee, a hot shower/bath, a walk in nature. It doesn’t have to cost a lot or anything at all but it’s good to do something, however small, just for ourselves.
