Save 10% on your place at Unset the Mindset, our January 2027 retreat in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast. Use code MINDSET10 at checkout. Offer ends 14 November 2026.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme for 2021 is nature. I adore being in nature – taking the time for a stroll in my local park, a walk along the river path or simply sitting at the foot of a tree with a book is a sure fire way to boost my wellbeing. There’s just something about being at one with the natural world – it’s soothing in a way unlike any other.
Over the past year I have been so incredibly grateful for the abundance of green space in London. On my doorstep I have some beautiful walks and opportunities to seek the solace of nature and I have really taken advantage of them during lockdown. This brings me on to the notion of gratitude. You hear it mentioned everywhere these days, but it really is such a beautiful concept and is a major part of finding inner calm and healing.
Taking the time each day to sit and write down a few things you are grateful for in a gratitude journal such as this one, is a fantastic practice to integrate into your self-care routine. It needn’t take too long – just a few quiet moments to reflect on your day and the beautiful things that you are grateful for is so nourishing for the soul. It’s all too easy in life to get caught up in the everyday and let the simple but beautiful moments pass us by. Writing them down encourages us to really reflect on the great things in our lives and relive the positive feelings they brought about.
They don’t have to be big things either. That’s the thing about gratitude – it’s all about recognising the small things too. The beauty of a morning sky. The sound of birdsong when you wake up. Brunch with friends. Managing to get the early bus! Anything that brings you joy is worth recognising.
I love to write in my journal, but I also make notes on my phone during the day if anything particularly lovely happens that I don’t want to forget. Looking through your camera roll is great for inspiring gratitude too, as is chatting with a friend. When you open up with them and discuss your day, you often remember all the lovely things that have happened that you want to share.
Another part of gratitude is expressing your thanks to someone who has brought joy into your life. We all know about the big celebration days throughout the year – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthdays – but how about celebrating someone wonderful ‘just because’? How nice is it when someone gives you an unexpected compliment? Especially when that compliment recognises one of your innermost personality traits. How about sending a friend a text message to say thank you just for being a good friend? Or acknowledging someone cooking you a lovely meal by following it up with a handwritten note popped in the post?
In these days of social media, dedicating a post to a small business you love is a wonderful way to say thank you for an item they have created, or a service they have provided. I know how warm it makes me feel inside when others do this for me!
I hope this inspires you to start your own gratitude journal, or even just to sit for five minutes with a hot cup of tea each morning, celebrating everything that is wonderful in your life. It is such an amazing thing to do each day.
To love others we must first love ourselves - a simple statement, but one that can sometimes be so easily forgotten. Taking the time to love ourselves and care for our emotional needs is critical, setting the foundation on which we can grow and flourish. But just how do we achieve this? Here are some of my top tips:
Self-care
We cannot pour from an empty cup, so it is vital we take care of ourselves before we take care of others. Our energy reserves are all too easily depleted so we must put great importance on caring for our emotional and physical health. Taking a long bath, putting on a nourishing face mask, reading a book or having a nap may seem like such simple acts, but done regularly they help to maintain our equilibrium. Time invested in ourselves is time well-spent indeed.
Positive self-talk
Our inner voice is so powerful - it is the narration of our life. By choosing to talk to ourselves positively we are choosing to frame our life in a beautiful way. We are giving ourselves the gift of optimism. It is important to be kind to ourselves and speak to ourselves as we would a friend. All too often we come down on ourselves harshly, ruminating on things that we could have done better. Although self-reflection is a worthwhile act that helps us to learn and grow, too much introspection can be damaging. Ruminate, learn, move forward. Forgive yourself.
Know your worth
You are amazing. Honestly, you really are. You are unique – there is no one like you and that is brilliant. You are worthy of love and happiness. Recognise this fact and allow it to settle into your consciousness. Live your life deliberately, knowing you deserve all of the wonderful things the world has to offer.
Comparison is the thief of joy
Comparing ourselves to others is one of the biggest acts of self-sabotage. In these days of social media it is all too easy to scroll through someone’s social media feed looking at all their adventures or their flawless appearance and feel an intense stab of envy. But you must remember that this is their highlight reel, and you cannot compare your everyday to it. By all means share the beautiful moments in your life and celebrate those that others choose to share with you. However, be mindful that we cannot ever compare our journey to that of others. Wouldn’t it be dull if we were all the same anyway?
Don’t be afraid of having boundaries
No – two letters, one powerful word. And guess what? You can say it. Define your boundaries and stick to them. By doing this you are protecting yourself from things that deplete your energy reserves and affect your mental health in a negative way. Being firm but fair will gain the respect of those around you.
Be thankful
It is imperative that we take time out to be grateful. Life is never perfect – there is always something we are striving for. Considering all the things we have to be grateful for brings forth a sense of inner peace and calm. Those who believe in manifestation will attest that in order to manifest the things you desire, you must first be thankful for everything you have. Gratitude journals are a delightful way to do this. Just 5 minutes each morning to note down a few things you truly appreciate will start your day on a positive note.
Self-love takes practice and I hope this list prompts you to think about the ways in which you can weave this into your life.
