I’ve got a secret to share with you: I have a really hard time calming down. My mind is always racing, and it’s not always easy for me to find peace.

But there is one thing that helps me get centred, and it works for me every time: gratitude. When my mind feels like it’s about to burst from all the thoughts running through it, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath helps me calm down and focus on what’s right in front of me. And when I’m able to do that, I can think of all the good things in my life—the smells and sounds and colours that make me happy—and those things are what help bring happiness into my life.

So here’s one of my favourite ways to practice gratitude: Simply close your eyes and take a deep and intentional breath, repeating until you feel calm and grounded. Then, when your mind is still, think about all the things in life that bring you joy. This could be anything from the smell of your favourite perfume to the sound of a loved one’s laughter or even just the colour yellow. When we take time to focus on these positive things in our lives, they help us bring happiness into our lives, which helps us live more authentically!