Screw the resolutions – appreciate what you have

"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest." - William Blake

As 2025 comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the rituals of this time of year - of looking back at the past year to take stock and looking forward to the next year with hope and expectation - and thinking it is time to create a new ritual.

Everyone always asks if I have any New Year's resolutions but I long ago gave up on them. I found I often had the same ones every year, and they were quite boring! Probably the same things that many of you resolve to do year after year - exercise more, eat better, be more productive - the things that we think we're supposed to do.

But this new year, I challenge you to not think of the things you should do and the things you think you need to achieve. Because really, that’s focusing on what you are lacking. Instead, try thinking of what you have accomplished and what you have – what you are grateful for - and see how that leads to positive action.

I feel a bit weird saying that because I’m put off by the idea of “gratitude journals”. Maybe it’s the people who promote them, maybe it’s the idea of being forced to do something every day. It’s always felt like the kind of mindless mindfulness that irritates me.

But… the idea of recognising what you're grateful for is something that I think we should all do more. I think many of the problems of our world stem from people not realising how much they have, from not appreciating everything they have. Our Western society focuses on always wanting more, striving, consuming. I'm not saying people shouldn’t have goals to work towards, but it seems as soon as something is achieved – whether a promotion at work, having a nice home, buying a cool pair of shoes – people are instantly looking for the next, bigger, better thing. There is little satisfaction in what we have or enjoyment in the present. We always think we’ll be happy once we get just one more thing… then it’s one more and one more. You see where this goes.

Not only is this detrimental to individuals but it creates a culture where the many wonders of the world are taken for granted. Instead of seeing all of incredible things this planet gives us every day, people are constantly thinking about how use its natural resources to give us more of the stuff we crave, things we think will fill the void inside of us – without thinking about the consequences.

Not everyone or every society is like this. Many indigenous cultures have a fundamental gratitude for what Mother Earth provides that shapes how they interact with nature, with each other, with themselves. That appreciation engenders a virtuous circle of reciprocity. If you truly value what is given to you, you work to protect it. You don’t just say “thank you” and keep taking - you want to give back. Imagine if everyone thought that way. I don’t think we’d be in the frightening environmental situation we are in and we certainly wouldn’t have an orange man-child in the White House continually demanding more to satiate his ego.

That might seem like an amazing but unattainable idea. But big change starts with each of us, as individuals, choosing to change. So this year, instead of thinking about what's lacking, I'm going to think about everything I have, everything I am grateful for. Because I think that is what actually drives me to do more - not silly resolutions.

Right now, I’m sitting in one of my favourite trees on Hampstead Heath, looking at the beautiful rolling hills, the still waters of the ponds and the incredible pinks, blues and oranges of the sky at sunset. I’m feeling happy thinking about the amazing people in my life, and all of the weird and wonderful turns life has taken to bring me to this moment. I’m grateful to be here, now, with the opportunity to work with people through the House of Mon – to recognise how much I have been given and to give back.

Happy new year!