When our days become too busy and we allow ourselves to get caught up in the distractions that surround us, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. When we lose sight of what truly matters, we end up with feelings of unhappiness, confusion, emptiness. Inevitably, this suffering impacts our relationships with others.

Is this something you are experiencing? Are you ready to make some changes to cultivate gratefulness?

Here is a simple place to start: take time each day to focus on what you value and feel thankful for in your life. Don’t overwhelm yourself with thoughts, just consider the first few that come to mind.

As you make slight adjustments, the distractions and negativity lose their power. When you exercise this regularly and with intention, you will begin to notice a change in your perspective and how you feel.

If you find yourself struggling to come up with meaningful appreciations, don’t be discouraged-take a look at the faces around you, or walk outside. In this time-lapse video presented by filmmaker Louie Swhwartzberg, the beauty of nature and the human spirit are used to lead you into a subtle guided meditation. He encourages a cultivation of gratefulness through the beauty of nature and the people around us.

Losing sight of what’s important is a trap we all fall into at times. With practice, you can train yourself to identify when this happens and respond by choosing the next, smallest, valuable action to get your positive thinking back on track. Noticing and appreciating the beauty of nature, and the people that surround you is a great place to start.

Michelle Rathburn, LAMFT