Hey there, friend. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. You know, January second can feel a little heavy, right? We're back in the swing of things after the holidays, and there's this weird pressure to have it all figured out already. But here's the truth: you don't. And that's actually perfect, because today we're going to practice something that makes everything a little lighter. We're going to explore gratitude, not as some toxic positivity cheerleading, but as a real, grounded way to find happiness hiding in plain sight.

So let's settle in together. Find yourself in a comfortable spot where you can just be for the next few minutes. Your back against a chair, your feet on the ground, or curled up however feels good. There's no wrong way to do this. Take a moment and just notice where you are right now. Not judging it, just noticing it.

Now, let's anchor ourselves with three deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose for a count of four, and out through your mouth for a count of six. Ready? In through the nose, one, two, three, four. And out through the mouth, one, two, three, four, five, six. Let's do that two more times. In through the nose, and out. In, and out. Beautiful.

Here's what we're going to do. I want you to think about something small from today or yesterday that might've passed you by without much notice. Not the big wins, not the dramatic moments. I'm talking about the quiet stuff. Maybe it was the warmth of hot water on your hands when you washed them this morning. Maybe it was someone responding quickly to a text. Maybe it was that first sip of coffee tasting exactly right. Just let something float into your mind. Don't force it.

Now, I want you to really taste that moment. Feel it like you're tasting honey. Where was your body? What did you hear? Notice the texture of this small thing, how it landed in your day like a tiny gift you almost missed. Stay here with it for a moment. This is gratitude practice at its heart: not performing happiness, but genuinely noticing the small sweetness that's already here.

When you're ready, gently bring your attention back to the room. Open your eyes if they've been closed. And here's my challenge for you today: notice three of these small moments. Just three. Write them down, or keep them in your pocket like little stones.

Thank you so much for practicing with me today. If you're finding this helpful, please subscribe to Gratitude Practice: Daily Mindfulness Reflections for Happiness so you don't miss a single day. I'll be here tomorrow with you. Until then, be gentle with yourself.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI