3 Sure-Fire Techniques For Giving Your Day An Instant Lift – Part Three

Clare Josa, Research & Training Director

Sunset lakeIn parts one and of our 3 sure-fire techniques to giving your day an instant lift, we covered why it’s so important not to let a negative mood spiral out of control and become a dangerous habit. Plus we let you in on the secret of two techniques for giving your day an instant lift.

If you missed part one, you’ll find it here: part one.
If you missed part two, you’ll find it here: part two.

In this mini-series we’re bringing you 3 ways you can lift your mood in less than 60 seconds, which has got to be worth a try, hasn’t it?
In part three, we’re bringing you one of my favourit mood lifters. Are you ready yet?


Here is the third of our 3 sure-fire techniques to give your day an instant lift.

No. 3: Feeling Grateful

There’s something about feeling grumpy about everything that’s going wrong that drags our mood down instantly.

But turning our perspective around – and consciously choosing to think of things we feel happy about or grateful for – is one of the most effective ways to reprogramme our thought habits.

So how do you do it?

  • Grab a piece of paper and a pen. This works better if you write it, rather than type it, because it gets your creative brain running.
  • Make a list of 10 things you feel graeful for, right now. This might feel tough, if you’re feeling down. But there will be ten things. No matter how bad things might seem, you’re still breathing…
  • Now, one at a time, go through the items on your list and focus on each of them. Give the item your full attention, really feeling the emotion of gratitude, as you work through the list.
  • Now let go of the practice and notice what you notice.

How much better are you feeling now?
Are more things to feel grateful about suddenly coming to mind?
Are you ready to kick the habit of feeling grumpy about what’s missing – choosing, instead, to feel grateful about what’s already here?

Here’s How To Easily Create This New Habit

Do one of these lists every day. It works really well, first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed. Many people find it helps to have a special notebook or journal, to write these lists in.

Some days it feels easy, other days it’s more of a challenge. But either way, it sets the tone for your day and gives a clear instruction to your unconscious mind that it’s job is to find more things to feel good about.

Just imagine the difference that will make!

You could even find your favourite things to feel good about and write them on small pieces of paper, sticking them in a jar, so you can pull one out at random, whenever you need a mood lift.

There are so many ways to apply this technique and it forms the basis for going Beyond Alchemy and starting to live the life you have been dreaming of.

How did you get on with these techniques? We’d love to hear your thoughts via the comments box!

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About the Author 

Clare Josa

Clare is considered a global authority in the fields of Imposter Syndrome, burnout and sustainable performance for individuals and teams. She has been an international keynote speaker for over 20 years.

Her research is cited in PhDs and taught on MBAs, worldwide, and she is the creator of the life-changing Safe to THRIVE™ and Natural Resilience Method® frameworks, which she teaches at Facilitator and Master Coach levels, as well as in the world's first Imposter Syndrome App - Imposter Syndrome Hacks™.

The author of ten books, a reformed engineer, and the former Head of Market Research for one of the world's most disruptive brands, she blends science-backed practical inspiration with demystified ancient wisdom, to help you create breakthroughs in ways that are fast, fun and forever.

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