There's nothing quite like a pandemic to put our lives into perspective, even if it does throw our day-to-day into chaos. As we adjust to life on lockdown, we're casting cynicism out with COVID-19 and probing into positive psychology. Can we cultivate an attitude of gratitude? Try these simple exercises.

Did Did you well up when the UK collectively got off its self-isolated sofa and clapped for NHS workers battling the coronavirus? Our hearts were bursting. That's the power of gratitude.

When times are tough, being told to be thankful can have the sting of an insult. Yet we're not reaching for the rose-tinted glasses here. Life isn't perfect. Gratitude simply hones our focus on the things that should be celebrated. Whether that's unsung heroes of the current crisis - healthcare workers, supermarket staff, delivery drivers - or the fact that you can enjoy a longer lie-in each morning.

The word "gratitude" comes from the Latin "gratia", meaning both graciousness and gratefulness. It shows appreciation for the things we receive - tangible or not - and in turn, recognises that goodness comes from outside of us, be it through other people, from nature or even a higher power, if you're so inclined.

The concept has been bandied around for millennia. "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others" mused Cicero in the 1st century BCE. A century later, Roman senator Seneca embraced the spirit of stoic gratitude in the face of mortal suffering. Most major religions - Theravāda Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism - also espouse thankfulness as an integral step to enlightenment.

Today, the emotion has become the poster child of positive psychology and a go-to for self-help types. Over the past decade, led by California-based professor of psychology Dr Robert Emmons, scientists have found a correlation between gratitude and wellbeing. It's a boon for our mind and bodies they say; it's armour against stress and depression, a shortcut to more fulfilling relationships and better immunity, a natural remedy for sleepless nights, a boost for feelings of hope and happiness and a helping hand for our own self-worth. Of course, this isn't intended to negate professional medical help, but when we're feeling down, anxious, overwhelmed or all of the above, gratitude can be a great way to lift the spirits.

We're not the only ones caving to this joy-breeds-joy law of attraction. Richard Branson and Arianna Huffington are among the big names claiming that gratitude is the ticket to the good life. "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more," writes Oprah Winfrey. "If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Lady O reportedly writes a list of things for which she's thankful each day. "Eating cold melon on a bench in the sun." "Maya Angelou calling to read me a new poem." You get the gist.

Yet gratitude doesn't come easy. Our survival instincts focus on that which could harm us, while our minds are hardwired to like newness and novelty. We get caught in the vicious cycle of thinking "if only I had ___ I'd be happy" or "if only I didn't have to deal with ___ I'd be content". But realistically, how long does the buzz of a new spouse or house, a pay rise or shedding a couple of kilos really last?

The cynics in us bemoan the commodification of gratitude, too; that feeling needn't come with a price tag. You know what, though? If you need a £9.99 "happiness journal", a mug emblazoned with an inspirational quote or a monthly subscription to an app that gets you into the habit of jotting down a few bullet points, go for it. You do you.

In a world of haves and have nots, gratitude is a go-to for those that have had enough. It's a glass-half-full frame of mind - and lord knows that most of us could do with a gulp of that right now.

An attitude of gratitude in five simple steps

Some of these methods may feel contrived or cringeworthy, but it's believed that with regular practice - as with deepening your crow pose or polishing Spanish tenses - our capacity for thankfulness will come that little easier.