When you were a kid, there was nothing better than receiving a gift. A wrapped present was a mystery story with an ending that was guaranteed to be excellent. You didn't know exactly what was inside, but you knew it was for you, and it was probably something you wanted.

We all eventually reach an age at which giving gifts becomes just as thrilling as it was receiving them as a child. You grow up to find that the joy of making someone happy is more powerful than you could have possibly imagined.

There's something inexplicably satisfying in witnessing people unwrap a gift or receive a compliment, random act of kindness or kind gesture. You will probably make them smile, and that's worth far more than money or any material item.

Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, can increase happiness, life satisfaction and general sense of wellbeing.

Wondering where to start?

Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone, smile, or volunteer your time by joining a community group. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connection with the people around you. It feels good to give and everybody has something to offer. How will you play your part? The Mental Health Foundation offers a few ideas:

• Join or start and develop a neighbourhood Time Bank.

• Take opportunities to support and advocate for groups, friends, family or neighbours in need.

• Give a smile away!

• Organise or promote random acts of kindness days at school, work or when you're out with a group.

• While driving, stop to let a car into the traffic.

• Offer to mow the grass verge of your neighbour.

• Join a community clean up day - could be a local stream, river, beach or park - or a tree planting project with friends or family 

• If you have fruit trees pop your excess fruit out on the street with a "help yourself" sign. 

• Donate old toys, books, sports equipment, clothes etc to a local charity.

• Help with school working bees and fundraisers.

• Offer to help an older neighbour with their wheelie bins on rubbish/recycling days.

• Give a compliment – acknowledge what someone in your life has done well.

Hand out some free compliments in your school or workplace or home

Want some inspiration

“The power of thought is an amazing thing, we are what we think.” – Think about that for a second…..if you are what you have been thinking most recently – what are you right now?

If you’re not where you would like to be right now – lets look at a way to change that!

The attitude of gratitude -

Gratitude, or appreciation for the good things that happen in life, is an essential part of building happiness and wellness in life. Practicing or working gratitude into your life can positively affect our mental health, lift our mood and improve our overall positive mindset. We all go through tuff stuff at times, sometimes bad things happen that are out of our control. The more we tend to think about these tuff or bad things, typically the more unhappy it makes us.

However….if we make an effort to think about the things, either big or small, that we are grateful for, it can help to balance out some of the negative stuff. This doesn’t mean ignore all of your problems and they will go away, it simply means remembering the good things, the things or people we are grateful for in life. This helps to foster a balanced mindset, giving good memories a chance to stick around in your mind and feelings also. 

Want some other ideas on how to practice gratitude in your life? It can be as simple as consciously thinking about the things, big and small, that you are thankful for.

Keep a journal, use an app, note it on your phone so you can remember them, take a photo everyday of something you are grateful for. It can make for a great pick-me-up on a down day.

How to practice gratitude

Gratitude Tree or flower. Get creative!! Find a branch and a vase. Cut out some small coloured leaves and every day write things you are grateful for and hang them onto the branches and enjoy your colourful gratitude tree. Create a gratitude flower by using coloured paper and in the centre writing ‘I am grateful for’ – attach petals with what you are thankful for. 

Gratitude walk. The goal of the gratitude walk is to observe the things you see around you as you walk. Take it all in. Be aware of nature, the colours of the trees, the sounds the birds make, and the smell of the plants. Notice how your feet feel when you step onto the ground.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough" - Oprah Winfrey