It's Christmas, a time of year when people's emotions are heightened... Either in a positive frantic running around trying to get things done way... Or in a negative, worry, low depressive kind of way. I guess that is just what the holidays do to people. People are rushing here and there.... Buying presents, choosing presents they want bought for them, worrying about money, worrying about not having this or not being able to do that.... Peoples mind's are on overdrive at this time of year... rushing, worrying... yada yada yada...

STOP!!! Just stop whatever you are doing right now - whatever you are thinking about.... and breath... a deep breath in.... and then exhale it all the way out.... Now do it again... another deep breath in... and exhale it all the way out.... Good.

Now that you have calmed down a bit - you need to just stop and think about your life in general. Think about the things in your life that you are grateful for, that you appreciate. Being grateful for what you have truly is one of the simplest ways to change your life for the better... and lower your stress levels.

If you become grateful for the things that you have had in your life and also the things that you currently have... then you will attract more positivity, more of what your desire and more of what you need. Putting what you have into perspective... like enough food, a roof over your head, family or friends to share the Christmas cheer with... are all things that others might not have. So it's vitally important that you appreciate what you do have.

Without gratitude - the inner you, will never really be truly happy. Appreciate your life and show just a little gratitude and you life will begin to change.... And the more your mind gets used to thinking appreciatively and positively.... the more positivity you will attract into your life. And the more grateful you become... the more your life will change into the way you want it to be.

Here is a little Gratitude Exercise I use with my clients in the clinic - www.paulgoldin.com - in my opinion, it's a great way to get you thinking in a positive frame of mind at the end of a year and an even better way for you to begin 2011!!

The Paul Goldin Clinic Gratitude Exercise.

It's a really good idea to identify and name all the things that you are thankful and grateful for in your life. It can help you to put things in perspective and it really is a great healing tool.

This exercise will actually release endorphins into your body, which will in turn increases feelings of wellbeing within you and it can also help you to create a new focus of attention and lower your stress levels.

Examples of gratitude's are:

• - Thank you for my healthy body
• - Thank you for the people in my life who love me
• - Thank you for the people in my life that I love
• - Thank you for the roof over my head
• - Thank you for the food I have in my life

How to practice the Gratitude Exercise:

• Write down at least 5 things in your life that you are grateful for.
• Write down at least 2 things that happened in your life that you are grateful for.
• Write down at least 2 qualities in you that made those things possible.
• Finally write down at least 2 actions that you took to make those things happen.

So now, I hope that exercise will have made you stop and think and appreciate the little things and the people that you have in your life... be it a family member, a friend, the lady down the street or even your pet.... We are all grateful and appreciative of different things in life - that's what makes us all individual. The important thing is that you are aware, recognize and are grateful for what you do have in your own life.

Merry Christmas!

Ho ho ho....

Katie-Jane xx

P.s. I would love to hear your thoughts on this Gratitude Exercise. Email me This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let me know how you got on with it and what you are grateful for in your life. It helps me with my research and I promise to write back to you!!!