Do you show gratitude? Are you good at accepting thanks? Would you like more appreciation in your life?

This simple exercise developed by Martin Seligmann, the author of Authentic Happiness, will increase our appreciation of others and make you feel good about yourself and the good things in your life.

To do this you need a pen, a notepad and some time to reflect at the end of the day. You can also use your phone or a file on your laptop but if you decide to do this in bed at the end of the day, pen and paper work best.

The end of the day, just before you go to sleep, is a great time for this activity as it sends us to sleep with a lovely frame of mind.

All you have to do is write down three things that happened in your day that you are grateful for and why you feel grateful.

It could be that you had a good workout and you are grateful for the strength of your body. It could be a beautiful sunrise and the wonderful colours of dawn. It could be a stranger who complimented your work or a loved one made you smile.

The situation may not be positive: that sunrise was when you were heading into work. That workout could have been brutal. That work compliment could have been after a disastrous meeting.

You need to hunt the good stuff.

If you do this exercise every night, you will go to sleep happier. You will start to feel a new awareness and appreciation for the people in your life and start noticing the little things.

And your Attitude of Gratitude will shine.