Wellness expert and founder of Adira Emily Wysock-Wright has more than 11 years’ experience in helping people re discover and re connect with themselves after significant life changes. She is qualified in 10 different fields of expertise including nutrition, spiritual counselling, kinesiology and behavioural coaching and in this post she details why practicing gratitude can significantly improve your outlook and lead to a more peaceful and positive life.

Being ‘grateful’ is about much more than just saying ‘thank you’ – it's really about not taking things or people for granted and realising a sense of appreciation and thankfulness for everything in your life, however large or small. It is believed that those who are ‘grateful’ tend to be happier, healthier and feel more fulfilled…. And isn’t this what we all want to feel!

Many of us are guilty of living our days in an often subconsciously negative mindset, where we are inadvertently complaining about ‘our lot’, be it concerning material matters, relationships, work etc... we find ourselves feeling constantly dissatisfied and hard done by - we begin to complain. Of course we all feel life’s pressures, where we are too busy, rushing around, always on the go on what seems like the perpetual treadmill that is life, but by doing so we can miss the good and the beauty of what is all around us. So we end up taking some things for granted and don’t always take the necessary time to appreciate what we really have.

When I personally switched on my ‘gratitude’, positive things started to happen. It’s as if the universe said: ‘wahey, you’re happy with what you’ve got, so let’s give you more’. It wasn’t just this, crucially it has taught and enabled me to live in the present and experience my life for me, as I am and no longer living through my ego.

So, ’Gratitude’ is a health choice and I want to show you how you can put it into play, leaving you feeling consciously ‘grateful’, often much happier and more optimistic.

How to be grateful:

• The first step is to acknowledge the things we are grateful for, but more importantly, to cultivate the feeling of gratitude. Our head may say of course we are grateful, but we really need to feel it.

To become aware and gain some perspective I recommend you take another page of your journal, and begin to write down all of the things you could be grateful for. Below are a few suggestions:

• How are your finances? Do you have savings? Is your money well managed?

• How are things at work? Do you still enjoy your job? Are you grateful to have one? 

• How are your social life and love life going? Are you loved and accepted by  your friends and family? Do you have a great partner and great friends?

• Do you have goals in your life? Do you know where you are going? Are you on your way to reaching your goals? 

• How do you feel about your body? Are you healthy?

• What parts are going well? What isn’t working so well.

• Do you have a lot of energy? Are you eating well? Are you able to shop for great food?

• How is your home? Are you happy with where you live?

• Do you like what you have or do you want more? What are you longing for?

Once you've got your list, look at every day to gain focus and determine how the rest of your day will go. By writing it down and adding to it, you are imprinting yourself with gratitude, and every day you look at it and add to it, you will feel a stronger sense of gratitude.

I recommend finding or blocking out some time, whether that’s morning or evening, to start on this - I like to do mine in the morning once I’ve taken my daughter to school and I have 10 minutes to myself and nice cup of coffee!

I also suggest keeping a note of these points at the front of your journal so you can refer back to them whilst you are still habit forming this practice.

For 30 days - 3 things a day  – 5 reasons why – what do you feel?

• Date (this is so important for when you reflect back)

• Today I am grateful for:

• 5 reasons why:

• The feeling I experience when I’m grateful for…

Link to download Gratitude and forgiveness workbook

More About Emily Wysock-Wright

Originally destined to be a Doctor, Emily Wysock Wright started her journey towards her medical degree at St. George’s Medical School in London. However, in an ironic twist of fate whilst learning how to look after others, she struggled with her own health issues. Taking time out to rebuild and recover, she volunteered in orphanages and townships in Ghana and South Africa, and it was here that she found her true passion.
“My journey was raw, honest and a real insight into the developing world. Food was scarce, but they made nutritional, whole food meals from what they had. I also learnt a lot about what made people happy, for example the importance of community and the essential need for love – not only towards others, but for themselves – and the difference that good health can make to your life”.