Perhaps these ideas can help you start your own Gratitude List or Journal

Your finances

Do you feel you have enough? Do you think its managed well? DO you feel a lack of money is affecting other areas?

Your work life

Do you enjoy your job? What parts do you like? Where is it taking you? Is there any part of you that is still wanting more from your job? In what way?

Your love life/ social life

Do you feel fulfilled and happy in this area? Do you feel loved and accepted for who you are? Have you got great friends?

Your goals

Do you have goals? DO you have a sense of where you are headed and do you know how to get there? DO you feel your goals are realistic for what you want to do and where you want to be?

Your physical life

Are you comfortable in your body? What parts are working well? What isnt doing so well? Are you filled with energy? Do you enjoy the foods you are eating?

Your home life and possessions?

Do you feel you have enough? Or do you think you need more? Do you like the things you own? Have you got your favourite items that you treasure? What do you really long for? Is there anything?

The Power of Gratitude
Why cant you be more grateful? Its likely at some point youve heard this remark from a parent, grandparent or have even uttered these words to a child yourself. (Or even worse, a partner!) Our need to see gratitude in others is a huge part of us seeing that person also as a loving, caring person.

Having gratitude helps us to enjoy life more. It can break through huge barriers and reduce our stress loads, give us more confidence and help us to meet our goals- no matter how big they may be.

There is now doubt that being grateful goes a long way. Its just how to be grateful in times of stress or when suffering from disappointment or sadness thats difficult.

All you Need to do is Breathe

Often we get caught up in a vicious cycle of if onlys. If only the job came through, then weld be grateful, if only the kids were better behaved, then wed say thanks, if only I could lose that extra ten pounds, get that guy to notice me, find a million dollars under my pillowif only, if only, if only..

The problem with if only is that if and when the if only happens, we often just move onto the next thing we want to get without stopping to say thanks. Or we focus so much on that hopeful if only, we forget to recognize all the other things we have in our lives to be thankful for.

So lets start with the basicsright here, right now. There is so much each of us has to be grateful for. We just often forget to focus on the good bits.

Make a list of the things you struggle to be grateful for, and the things you already are thankful for. Dont worry if the complaints list is a little long. Well sort that out soon!