Time to think…about being grateful for what you already have

“Yes, getting your wish would have been so nice. But isn’t that exactly why pleasure trips us up? Instead, see if these things might be even nicer – a great soul, freedom, honesty, kindness, saintliness.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

Sometimes it can be rather settling and calming to stop and think about the things you do have, instead of craving for the things you don’t have. A hot meal versus a banquet; a warm, dry bed versus a luxury apartment; reliable public transport versus a brand new car. All that you need you already have.

If that seems too hard to do, try this instead: ask yourself how things could be worse? Little and only cheap food that’s unhealthy; sleeping in a smelly sleeping bag because you cannot afford to buy or launder bed linen; walking home in a downpour with holes in your shoes. Then go to sleep and wake the next day reassured that, in actual fact, you’re probably not that bad off after all.