The internet tells me today (30 November) is called giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving where everyone, everywhere can do something to support the good causes that mean so much to them. You can volunteer your time; donate money; share your skills; campaign for something; donate goods, food, or clothes; organise a community event such as a street or park clean-up or a coffee morning.

Giving is one of the ten key areas of happiness, so I just wanted to touch on this in a blog today.

Giving can come in so many forms – time, money, objects or even just to say thank you. It is great to receive a thank you, but it is also a good feeling to be the one expressing gratitude too.  A thank you can be simple, it doesn’t have to be anything more than those two short words.

Giving support and positive encouragement to an individual is another great feeling.  It feels good to receive positive words and encouragement, and as well as the benefits it can give the person delivering the encouragement. I’d like you to think of those people in your life and is there someone who could benefit from a little positive support and encouragement. Maybe there is someone you can congratulate on some good news or give a little support to help them achieve a personal goal? Lets build each other up and give some encouragement. There is not enough positive support in this world, there is too much emphasis on the negatives. Well that’s my personal view anyway!

You can also give yourself a boost. Write down three things you are grateful for today.  And then repeat that daily.  A few weeks of this and you’ll build a great new habit that’s a positive defence against bad days.

I just want to ask you one more time – what could you do to encourage and support some one positively? It only takes a few words.