It has been hard to not get caught up in the whole royal wedding fever. And it is wonderful to see, not only the whole nation, but the globe celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle coming together.
The royal wedding coincided with my own 10 year wedding anniversary and got me thinking of how blessed I am.
My wife is the most caring, kind, patient and considerate person I have ever met. Has been by my side through thick and thin, the ups and downs and never judged or criticised me, even tolerating my dad dancing on occasional social events. And looking back, the last 10 years have seen some of the most wonderful experiences of my life, all of which I have shared with her.
It is incredible how we can take things and people for granted and only when they are lost that we realise the true importance of them, my late amazing mother being one of them. However, adopting a “gratitude attitude” can make a big difference to both those around you, including yourself.
There are various thoughtful and mindful studies, including vast practical examples demonstrating that the most successful people in life (not necessarily measured by money) adopt an approach that is focused on patience, perseverance and positivity. For me, whilst I must admit at times I am not always the most patient, I do adopt a constantly trying until you succeed approach, but the most important aspect in my life is positivity.
Being positive makes a significant difference, looking for the improvements, the good things in life and in other people around me. Waking up and thinking how can I make a difference today, rather than thinking how sad and bad the world is and burying my head in the sand, although I do admit there are times when these thoughts cross my mind. Even the words that we chose can affect how we react in any situation. Next time you experience a problem at work or home, try changing the word “problem” to “challenge” or even better opportunity, and you will be surprised at how you and those around you react. With a challenge you start thinking innovatively, your approach changes to making things better and learning. Positivity gives us hope and the power of hope lifts our spirits. You just need to watch Star Wars to understand how compelling hope can be.
The world is filled with despair, disengagement and divisiveness. But there is also an incredible amount of good that exists, with a vast number of initiatives that bring people and communities together all to make a difference providing hope. I am astounded by the positive response of the #Primary2Prosperity Campaign.
We just all need to get behind something good and start promoting it more, alongside recognising and appreciating the true angels in our lives. My wife is my life support system, for whom I am eternally grateful and I look forward to our next 10 years!
Ammar Mirza CBE is the founder and chairman of Asian Business Connexions, Board member of North East LEP and holds various other positions across the private, public and third sectors.
