Appreciating what you have, before fantasising about what you don’t

Appreciating what you have, before fantasising about what you don’t

In those quiet moments— behind the wheel,  grabbing a solo bite to eat  or even just sitting on the toilet—you might be surprised by how valuable you’ll find it to cultivate this simple, yet powerful habit. Instead of letting your mind meander aimlessly, ruminate or worry about future events it has zero control over,  press pause on those narratives and start try to consciously rewind your mind to the good times.

Reflect on all those things in your life, you’ve long since taken the time to appreciate; your partner, your children, your friends, your home, your health. Let your mind travel back to  back to the kindnesses you’ve observed throughout the day and the small victories that might otherwise be forgotten; the item ticked off your to-do list, the taste of the morning croissant, the smile you got from a coworker, the cool thing you saw a stranger do.

By taking stock of the reasons you have to be grateful, you’ll subtly shift your  everyday mindset. You’ll remind yourself of the richness that already surrounds you, and in doing so, you’ll reinforce the reasons why life is a ride to be cherished. Beginning to appreciate what you have, is far more useful for your mental well-being  (and cheaper) than fantasising about what you don't have. As Naval says, if you cant appreciate a  good coffee, you won’t be able to appreciate a yacht.

All this is more than just feel-good fluff. It’s simple, yes, but over time, it can flip the script on your entire outlook on life. Trust me, it’s a game-changer.