Gratitude for nature

Gratitude is so underrated! Do you tend to take things for granted? When did you last take some time to be thankful for things in your life? Gratitude is an incredible antidote for our natural ‘negativity bias’ and a regular gratitude practice can really boost our wellbeing.

So, what is a gratitude practice? Essentially it is about firstly noticing the good things in our lives and then being thankful for those things and really feeling that gratitude. The act of writing what you are grateful for down on paper, (or electronically), is even more impactful. It sounds simple and it is, but like any habit, it takes a little practice. Once you get started though it becomes easier, and you begin to reap the benefits. Its not going to happen overnight, but give it a go.

Life can be really tough. It might seem there is little to be grateful for at times, but who genuinely isn’t grateful for the beauty of a flower, a cheeky wee bird, good weather or a delicious apple? Nature is all around us, even in a city, but many are blind to it. The first thing to do is to start noticing what is there. You don’t need to know what type of flower or bird you’ve seen, just notice what it looks like and what you appreciate about it.

The best way to get started with a gratitude practice is to build this into something you already do regularly. Do you go for a regular walk? If so, rather than simply sticking some headphones on, chatting on the phone, or being otherwise distracted with your to-do list, why not go with the intention of finding three good things in nature you are really grateful for on your walk? This forces you to take notice of your surroundings, use your senses and land firmly in the present moment.

If you journal or keep a diary, then a simple addition to that practice is to note down those three things that you are grateful for and briefly write why. If you don’t currently journal, why not get a small note book and start to jot down what you are grateful for each day before you go to bed.

Vibrant daffodils, a gentle warmth in the sun, beautiful bird song…these are the three things I was grateful for on my morning walk in my local greenspace. What were yours?

‘I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude.’ - Brené Brown