Christmas is the season for great food, great parties and hanging out in front of roaring fires with your loved ones. It’s also the season of want and of spending huge sums of money on things we don’t need. It’s a time of year that compels us to focus on the things we don’t have instead of the things we do. All of which can lead to stress, unhappiness, debt and a general feeling of ‘bah humbug’.
Worry not, my lovelies, at Mimosa we have the perfect antidote for anyone threatened by a case of the ‘Scrooges’: Gratitude.
Every December we dive into our 25 Days of Gratitude advent adventure — it’s absolutely my favourite Mimosa tradition because it allows us to focus on the abundance in our lives, the things we already have. It shifts us from a place of ‘need’ to a place of love, caring and a deep appreciation of the wonderful things and people we already have in our lives.
The first thing on my gratitude list? I’m grateful for the power of gratitude itself!
Gratitude combats stress.
We all know someone for whom the glass isn’t just half-empty, it’s totally smashed to pieces on the kitchen floor. And it’s not a healthy attitude to have. If you go through life looking for the negatives, you’ll always find plenty — and when you focus on life’s negatives, you’ll find worry, stress and anxiety are never far behind. And we know that a life filled with stress can lead to weight gain, sleep disturbances and other, more serious, health issues.
However, if you concentrate on the glass half-full approach, not only will you reap the instant benefits of having a more positive day, but you’ll help stave off the worries and anxieties that can have a negative impact on your long-term health.
So the next time you feel like grumbling about something, try to turn the situation on its head; ‘Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I’m grateful that thorns have roses’.
Positivity attracts positivity.
Happy people just seem to sail through life, surrounded by good friends and good fortune. But are they happy because of their good fortune, or does their happiness draw luck to them? Instead of seeing pitfalls, they see potential; they find opportunity where others see risk.
Approaching the world with gratitude and hope can improve your life in so many ways. At work, you’ll cope with challenges and boost morale and at home you’ll find relationships become smoother and family bonds stronger. Instead of cursing your kids or partner for leaving a mess behind them, you’ll focus on the joy of having them in your life (though you’re still allowed to grumble about them leaving the toilet seat up!).
Gratitude makes the world a more beautiful place.
Practicing gratitude daily doesn’t just improve your little corner of the world — it can have a huge knock on effect. Sure you’ll begin to appreciate the beauty of the world around you but more than that, when we move away from materialism and the relentless pursuit of more of everything (and we’re all guilty of that at this time of year!) our attitudes shift.
We move closer to a place of empathy, caring for others and discovering the value of taking care of the people and the planet around us. When we appreciate all of the things we have in our lives, we give more readily to others, whether through volunteering or making donations to a charity or food bank.
This is a crazy old time of year and it’s so easy to be swept along by the ‘more, more, more’ madness of Christmas. Which is why it’s the perfect time to take a step back from the craziness and focus on all the things we’re grateful for — and we’d love for you to join us!
Sign up here to join us for 25 days of short, thoughtful email prompts that will leave you feeling calm, grounded and peaceful throughout the holiday madness.
Jennie x