Whenever I am running a workshop on ways to maintain a healthy sense of wellbeing,

I always remind people that there is no one size fits all wellbeing package. Such a thing doesn’t exist.

Each person’s individuality and uniqueness means that their wellbeing needs will also be individual and unique.

For this reason, one of the most important things you can do is to get to know the things that bring you personally a sense of fulfilment and joy.

I used to describe this as “making a big deal out of small things that make you happy”. You may wonder what I mean by that.

Well, think of how often we do the opposite.

How often have you got in a bad mood after getting stuck in traffic?

Or sworn under your breath because you have forgotten a password?

We think nothing of telling our friends and colleagues what a “terrible” morning we have had when actually the bus was a bit late or you found you were out of butter.

What about if we were to reverse this trend and start making a big deal out of those small moments in life which we have genuinely enjoyed instead? This is something I have been banging on about for years – but this weekend was the first time that I discovered that there is actually a name for this practice.

It’s called ‘The Art of Savouring’. Even better, is the fact that there has been extensive research on the positive benefits of making a big deal of small but happy moments, or ‘swishing it around in your mind’ as described by Fred Bryant, who has written a book on the subject.

What he and other researchers have found, is that getting into the habit of savouring these moments can lead to stronger relationships, improve your mental and physical health and help you find more creative solutions to problems.

Added to this is an overall more positive outlook and better sense of wellbeing.

This doesn’t mean that a few moments of pleasure will negate any challenges you might be facing. But it does mean you are probably more likely to view them with a positive and creative outlook and have an overall healthier sense of perspective.

So what does this practice of savouring look like in practice?

First of all, I would say you need to stop and notice the things in life that you genuinely enjoy. Or put another way, notice the things that give you a disproportionate amount of pleasure.

Then you need to make a conscious effort to both make those moments happen and to maximise them when they do. Take photographs. Talk about them with friends. Take time to think about them and consciously dwell on these moments – rather than on the parking ticket or the guy who cut you up on the way to work.

Another aspect of savouring positive moments is to give yourself credit for your achievements rather than just brushing them off.

I am struck every day by how difficult many people find it to think of their good qualities or recognise how much they have achieved.

Even an ‘ordinary’ day at home or work usually involves many small achievements just to get to the end of it. We should learn to be proud of those things!

Stopping to recognise these small achievements and giving yourself a mental pat on the back can do wonders for both how you feel about yourself and how resilient you feel about any problems that may crop up.

On a walk this weekend, I stumbled across a field of cows.

They all gathered curiously to see who had suddenly appeared on the other side of the fence and all at once I was being stared at by about fifteen of them.

As someone who has always loved cows, this was a moment of pure happiness for me.

I felt the same joy I had felt as a child when being in the presence of cows in Finland.

For another person, an encounter with even one cow, let alone a field of them, might have been terrifying and certainly not something to savour.

But for me it was quite honestly the happy highlight of my week.

I have looked at the picture my husband took several times since then and I smile each time I see it.

Why not try this over the next few days?

Notice the little things that make you smile and make a conscious effort to maximise the pleasure you feel.

You might be surprised on what a positive effect doing this has on your week.