Bumpy, bad skin got you feeling the blues?

It can be incredibly easy for us to find fault in ourselves; to search for and obsess over our flaws. But have you ever thought about giving thanks for your own unique beauty - for all the little things that make you 'you' - instead of criticising that pretty face of yours when you look in the mirror?

Skin conditions can impact our quality of life in a HUGE way, with body image and self-esteem copping especially big hits. Acne sufferers, for example, are at an increased risk of suffering from self-esteem issues, depression and suicidal ideation, and anxiety. 

And a gratitude practice can also greatly impact our quality of life (except, hint: it's for the better!). But what exactly is gratitude, and how can we practice it?

Gratitude is the affirmation of goodness - all that is 'good' in our little worlds, and all of the gifts we receive every day for being in them.
Practicing gratitude is easy: simply think about / write down / sing from the rooftops / share with a friend or family member all of those 'good' things. Anything and everything, big or small. It could be for the meal you just ate; for your gorgeous BFF, partner, or family; for the roof over your head; for the opportunities that have come into your life; for reading this blog, and taking the first steps towards your happier and healthier life! Anything that makes you feel something wonderful, in some way. And thank your lucky stars for those lovely things.

"ACKNOWLEDGING THE GOOD
THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR LIFE
IS THE FOUNDATION
FOR ALL ABUNDANCE." - Eckhart Tolle.

Regularly practicing gratitude, and recognising all of those wonderful things and people we're grateful for, can help us to:

• Acknowledge and appreciate other people.
  Not only can this strengthen our existing relationships, but also create opportunities for us to befriend more beautiful people - because who wouldn't want to be friends with a grateful someone, right?!
• Feel happy.
  Thinking about the positive things that have happened in our lives, or beautiful things we've heard or thought about recently, can quite literally = happy thinking.
  Not only are we jumping on the express train from depress central station by practicing gratitude, but also enhancing our resilience against feeling down when the times get tough by training ourselves to more easily see the silver lining(s). 
• Get better sleep.
  Our body needs an adequate amount of sleep (6-9 hours) each night in order to heal and repair itself. And the skin is our largest organ, so you can bet that a lack of sleep is gonna show up on the surface pretty darn quick.
  I always recommend journaling to my clients when they're struggling to sleep. And falling asleep with a 'tude of gratitude, having written a little (or, heck, big) list of things to feel grateful for, ain't a bad way to end the day if you ask me.

• Remind us of the importance of taking care of ourselves. 
  It's no coincidence that grateful people are more likely to feel healthy. It's much easier to treat your body like a temple when you're grateful for it, and for all that it allows and enables you to do.
• Feel empathy towards others (and ourselves). Being grateful allows us to better understand, support and accept others - without it negatively impacting ourselves. Similarly, being grateful helps us to feel happiness for others without feeling a need to compare our own selves (or our skin or bodies or lives).

"DO NOT SPOIL WHAT YOU HAVE
BY DESIRING WHAT YOU HAVE NOT;
REMEMBER THAT WHAT YOU NOW HAVE WAS ONCE
AMONG THE THINGS YOU ONLY HOPED FOR."  - Epicurus.

While practising gratitude may not magically fix your skin problem, it can certainly help with the way you view and value your self, your health, and your wellbeing. And, if you ask me? That's a pretty great first step!

Do you practice gratitude regularly?

P.S. If your skin's sending out an SOS, and you need a little help navigating your way towards the clear (as well as support for the impact your skin's having on your mental health - super important!)... book a one on one consult with me, and we'll get you on track, girlfriend.