Hello and welcome to this week's Choosing Happy Podcast.

It's getting close to Christmas and the end of the year, so I thought we'd have a reflective podcast with an amazing exercise that I really invite you to take part in.

I think you'll enjoy it.

It's about appreciating those in our lives and taking a moment, maybe 30 minutes, to really go through the year and analyze the year for all of those that have helped us in some way.

Now, let's get into it in this week's Choosing Happy Podcast.

Welcome back to the Choosing Happy Podcast.

As we approach Christmas and the end of the year, it's the perfect time to reflect on those who have touched our lives in meaningful ways this year.

And so I'm dedicating this episode to appreciation, recognizing the words, the actions, the showing up and the support from others that have sparked transformation in our lives throughout the year.

And it doesn't have to be anything big.

It might have been a word that has changed everything just because of the timeliness of it.

So let's start by exploring how a simple word or phrase can change everything for you.

If you think back over the past year, was there a moment when someone said something that resonated deeply with you?

Perhaps it was a pivotal moment.

Perhaps it was a compliment, a piece of advice, or a casual remark that really hit home and made you pause and reflect.

These moments can be pivotal in as much as they help us reframe or take on a new perception of a situation.

So take a moment to recall those words.

How did they impact your mindset or actions?

Did they inspire you to take a leap of faith?

Did they encourage you to remember who you are and to be true to yourself?

Did they inspire you to help others or reassess your priorities?

You can pause this, write this down.

I really do encourage you to actually work through this so that we can really appreciate all of those who've shown up.

And sometimes, as I say that with the power of words, it can just be a remark, even from a shopkeeper or someone you've sitting next to on a train where you overhear something that's pivotal for your world.

Now, next, let's talk about people who have supported us through thick and thin.

It's been a very unusual year when it seems that the world has split rather than come together in some ways.

And it's easy to overlook those who are always there, the families and friends and neighbours who stick with us, especially when life gets busy.

But it's their presence that often provides us with the strength and encouragement we need.

So who has been your rock this year?

And maybe it's been something really.

Someone quiet, someone unassuming, that, you know, you can just go have that cup of coffee when things are getting bad.

And how have they supported you during challenging times?

And what small acts of kindness have made a big difference to your life this year?

Whether it is that cup of coffee and a chat or that walk in the fresh air just when you need it at most.

So take the time again to answer those questions.

Who has been your rock this year?

How have they supported you during challenging times?

And what small acts of kindness have made a big difference?

And if you're lucky, you might have two or three of these or more.

Now let's shift our focus to those everyday heroes in our lives.

These are the individuals we might take for granted.

The barrister who remembers your order, the neighbour who checks in on you or holds your key just in case something goes wrong.

Or even the colleagues who lend an ear.

Now, I know, for me, during the storm that was going through the UK a couple of weekends ago, I just decided to have a duvet day.

It's the first duvet day I've had in about 10 years.

I didn't get out of my PJs.

The dogs didn't want to go out, the wind and rain was so wild they wouldn't even go in the garden.

So I stayed in my PJs and I got a phone call from a neighbor asking if I was all right because they hadn't seen me go out and I hadn't opened my bedroom curtains because I was sitting reading and enjoying a coffee with the two dogs snuggled into me.

And those are the neighbours that really, really matter, the fact that they care.

So I invite you to write down three people you appreciate but might not express it too often.

Think about how you can show them gratitude, maybe through a handwritten note or a simple thank you message.

And I think at this time of year, you know, I think the people who write out the Christmas cards, I know my family, tend to throw them in the bin as soon as they get them, but I think about the people who write the Christmas cards, the amount of time it takes, the thought that goes into the messages and the thoughts about delivering them, all of that adds up to someone who cares enough to send you a message.

And I'm very grateful for that, especially kind of in the remote area I live in.

I really appreciate cards from my neighbors.

So as we reflect on these connections, let's consider how they contribute to our personal growth because each interaction can be a catalyst for change, helping us become more resilient and and open hearted.

And have a think about those people that may have not been so kind.

They may not have shown up in your life as the gift you kind of expected, but in a way they have been a gift.

They've either been a wake up call or a reflection of where you are in your world.

I think it was Carl Jung who said that the people in our lives who upset us the most are the ones that reflect what needs to be healed.

So for instance, as a coach, if you're getting people into your practice who have similar issues as you, it's a gift from the universe.

Those are the things that you need to heal.

And you can heal through helping other people heal.

So remember that transformation often comes from within, but is fueled by our relationships with others.

So let's commit to nurturing these connections as we move into a new year, and to not always dismissing the angry people or the people who show up in our lives to remind us there's something still to heal.

As I wrap up today's episode, I encourage you to take this time of reflection seriously.

Reach out to those who've impacted your life this year, even if it's a Christmas card, and let them know that their influence matters.

I think it's a time for us to begin to come together, so let's step into the new year with gratitude and an open heart, and thank you for joining me on this journey of appreciation today.

If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with someone who could use a reminder of the power of connection.

And until next week, keep Choosing Happiness.

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this week's episode.

If you enjoyed it or think it would be valuable to others, please do share.

And if you really enjoyed it, please please leave me a review.

It really helps the podcast.

All of the links are in the show notes and I look forward to seeing you next week on the Choosing Happy podcast.