Why gratitude is the best present you can give yourself
Learning to appreciate what we have helps us get on, and feel better - and not just at Christmas, says Jen Rolfe
"So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over…" John Lennon
How many of us will end this year discarding it like an unwanted Christmas gift? It’s easy to forget about what we’ve achieved or experienced or how we’ve progressed, and instead compare ourselves unfavourably to others who have done more or have more.
Positive psychology can help avoid such a depressing waste of our time and energy. As we’ve mentioned previously learning to be grateful - without going too over the top – is key. A little gratitude for what we have already can strongly counteract the sense of being on a treadmill just waiting for the next promotion, pay rise, or purchase (see here for a detailed analysis).