The mistake a lot of us make is that we focus on what we donвЂ™t want. How you talk to yourself is important because you are the one listening. Trust me-if you want to be happier, this will be way more useful than wasting time thinking about people who donвЂ™t deserve your precious energy. This filter allows us to see how good things really are and opens up our mind to possibility. Gratitude unlocks our positive vibes through the improved filter it gives us on the world. Even writing them down now gives me a boost! Some of my recent gratitude nuggets include an unexpected text from an old friend, skinny margaritas, a really committed new client, thrift shopping, inspirational podcasts, funny things my nephews say, the Whole Foods pizza bar, fall fashion to look forward to, having only a one-minute wait for the subway, and my husbandвЂ™s never-failing sense of humor. Next time you canвЂ™t sleep, have to wait in a long line, or find your mind wandering toward thoughts about your ex or unfair boss, use that as a trigger to create a mental list of things youвЂ™re thankful for-include the little things! See if you can get to 100. Allow this to propel you forward to action. Review these goals often and see how they cause an immediate shift in how you feel. Your goal could be вЂњearn 20 percent more,вЂќ вЂњvisit a country IвЂ™ve never been to,вЂќ or вЂњstart my food blog and reach 1,000 followers.вЂќ The more specific you can be, the better.

Ask yourself: By this time next year, what would you have liked to achieve? Find one hour and some peace and quiet, and have fun with this exercise. It doesnвЂ™t need to be January 1 to write down your goals.

Positive thoughts