The month of December can be a busy time when we find ourselves overindulging, overspending and generally overextending ourselves – leaving us feeling frazzled… just in time for the new year to start.

I have, for the last couple of years, created my own little end of year and beginning of year tradition start which focuses on starting the New Year feeling refreshed. One way of doing this is to be grateful.

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Being grateful for what I have achieved in the past year, grateful for the wonderful people around me, and grateful for what I have rather than always wanting something more.

December is the perfect time to devote a few minutes each day to focus on gratitude. The ability to be grateful for all that we have in our lives is truly something to celebrate.

I believe gratitude works because it allows individuals to celebrate the present and be an active participant in their own lives. By valuing and appreciating friends, oneself, situations and circumstances, it focuses the mind on what an individual already has rather than something that’s absent and is needed.

We are often looking forward. Looking at what we still need to get done before the year ends and looking at what we still need to achieve in our lives.

Being grateful for what we have and not always wanting more is also a biggie at Christmas time. Heading to the shops at this time of year is scary. It is easy to fill up our shopping baskets with things we think we desperately ‘need’.

Instead of always wanting more, rather review the gifts in your life that you already have.

The end of the year is not only a time for holiday celebrations. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on all we experienced in 2018.

Who helped us along the way?

What inspired us to action?

Where did joy come from?

What made us laugh and cry?

Who changed our lives for the better?

What are you grateful for?

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