Bringing in the New Year can also bring mixed feelings with it.
For some, it’s a time of celebration and anticipation for what the year may bring. For others, it can be a time of reflection on both the ups and downs of what the past year has yielded.
Despite what kind of year you may have had, a positive way to kick things off in the New Year is to find things to be grateful for – and there’s always something!
So, grab a pen and paper, put on your thinking cap, and start finding those positives – small or large.
Here are a few examples you can use to get started.
Something that has positively impacted your life
What positively impacts your life might look different from person to person. It might be that you got a new pet you’ve spent time with, celebrated a new promotion, or started a new sport. Reflect on what has brought positivity to your life – experience, person, or thing – and make sure you keep it going for the New Year.
A challenge you overcame
Life is full of challenges, but it’s also full of strong and resilient people. What’s something you struggled with or a situation you faced that you’re grateful you overcame? You might have mastered a new skill, solved a significant problem, or did something to challenge yourself and succeeded. Bask in that success and be grateful for it.
Connections you made and/or kept
People can have such a great influence on our social, personal, and professional lives. The connections we make – good and bad – all have an impact on our lives and building and maintaining great relationships is always something to be grateful for. The people around us help to shape us, so celebrate those people and their part in your life.
Little things that made you smile
There are lots of a little moments that can happen within an entire year, and when we’re lucky enough, those little things can make us smile. Did you do a good deed that made someone’s day? Did you find the world’s cutest animal and get to pet it? Did you discover the best cuisine you never knew existed? If it made you smile, it’s worth your gratitude.
Things you may have taken for granted
Throughout life’s fast-paced nature, there are a lot of things you may go about your life taking for granted. That might be having somewhere warm to sleep, having a job you love, or simply having the ability to eat three square meals. When you’re struggling for things to be grateful for, strip it back to bare basics to truly take stock of what’s around you.
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