A Gratitude Practice for the Year's Turning

Welcome to 2025! I hope that the end of 2024 brought you some rest and relief – it felt like many of us were racing towards the finishing line, out of breath and on the point of collapse. I hope you have found some time for rest and play in the last few weeks.

In my time on holiday I have been reflecting on what attitudes and beliefs will support me in 2025, and I want to share a practice that may support you with this too. It feels particularly relevant for anyone engaging in humanitarian and social justice work – but also if, like me, you can often dwell on the negatives in your life and all around you; ?overlooking the goodness that is shown in people, nature and everyday situations.

This practice has arisen out of some caring, thoughtful suggestions given by two incredibly wise teachers – Michelle and Joel Levey – whose work I highly recommend if you are keen to start and continue the year with more love and more presence for yourself and for others. This remarkable couple shared with me their practice on gratitude, which goes significantly further than listing things you are grateful for each day.

I was first of all reminded by them that there are many times throughout the day when we can practise gratitude: for the comfort of our bed, or our living room or sofa. For the friendly smile from a stranger. For the food we eat. For the nature surrounding us.

But also, looking back on 2024 – perhaps you may want to remember the moments you are grateful for. It was a tough year for so many – and perhaps you too found it very challenging. But sometimes even those challenges can be blessings, or big lessons from which we grow.

I know I can name a few; times that were unsettling or upsetting, where I felt alone or hopeless, and where I desired something different. Yet even those moments have taught me something – whether it was about what’s important in my life, what I need to let go of, or about my own mistakes and unhealthy behaviours that I wish to move on from. ??

So here is the practice, to help you remember what 2024 gave you and to continue exploring throughout the year. Give yourself a few minutes, or half an hour or longer, if you can.

Reflect on the key moments from 2024 for which you are grateful. The people, the situations, the environment you were in. How did you feel (happy, sad, fearful, joyful…)?

Can you bring that back into your mind and body? ?You may wish to place a hand on your heart, to tap into that feeling sense and the appreciation you now have for that moment and what it has given or taught you.

Now, can you reach out your hand (metaphorically,or physically) – in a gesture of love and appreciation for those people, animals, plants, situations that have meant something to you in 2024? This may even include those you have felt hurt by, or disappointed with – because they have taught you something really important too, about your values and what you stand for. Spend some time giving thanks to these beings and situation in whatever way feels meaningful to you.

Now place your hand back on your heart. Imagine that all that love and appreciation you have just shown to others is flowing right back into your whole being. Imagine this love originating from all the people, animals, places in nature that you are grateful for - reminding you of this web of life, the endless flow of giving and receiving which sustains us. Remember ?all the ways in which you are supported, and how you may continue to feel supported throughout the day and throughout your life.

This is a practice you can explore every day. I have found it useful to do the minute I wake up, before I even get out of bed. But it could be used at any moment throughout the day, or just before you go to sleep at night.

If you would like to deepen into practices that cultivate greater gratitude and self-compassion, which can support you and cultivate a healthier working culture - then join us online for the Vulnerable Humanitarian Circle of Practice. ?

In our next session, on 14th and 15th January (according to which timing you prefer), we will be exploring perfectionism: how this shows up in the humanitarian and human rights space, and the patriarchy and white supremacy underpinning it which affects everyone, no matter their identity.

Sounding heavy? This is where self-compassion and self-soothing comes in – and we will be practising this together. So you can leave the session feeling more aware of yours and the sector’s perfectionist tendencies, and how to overcome them with patience, kindness and care. I hope you can join us!