(Photo: I was lucky enough to take a course of gratitude at Dove House Hospice and Wellness Centre, which I write about in The Feeling of Cancer in more detail. It was so wonderful to go back and have a book launch at Dove and express my gratitude for all the care and support they have given me over the years).

A gratitude practice is a way of developing an appreciation for the things you have got rather than what you’ve lost. It does take regular practice to see things even a little differently when you are overwhelmed or anxious, but it can provide some light and hope, even momentarily.

There are different ways to approach gratitude and you can find many gratitude journals online if writing things down helps you. I would recommend a gratitude meditation on the Headspace app. Here’s a 2 minute video about gratitude during uncertainty

I think it’s so important to be comfortable with the voice when you’re listening to an app which is designed to relax you and Andy Puddicombe, the ex-Buddhist monk and founder of Headspace who narrates most of the content has one of those soothing, steady voices that just makes me calmer as soon as I hear it. I’ve found the app www.headspace.com, a meditation app, helpful as I can listen whenever I need to on my phone. There is a free trial of the app you can access before you decide whether you want to pay the monthly subscription. If you have trouble setting aside time for meditation as I have in the past then it may be a good investment to consider.