'I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.' - Anne Frank

Beauty; it's the quality or combination of qualities present in something or someone that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. Beauty can be found in shapes and colours, designs and patterns. It can be found in a view - a landscape, a cityscape or a seascape. Beauty can be found in art and architecture, a poem, a painting, a person, a face. Beauty can be found in a sound - music and song, the wind and rain.

Why does an appreciation of beauty matter? It matters because beauty can give you a sense of calm and peace. Beauty is uplifting and inspiring.

Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. What do you perceive to be beautiful? What sights and sounds, tastes and smells please you? Consciously look for and appreciate instances of the beauty of what we are naturally a part of, concepts such as: music and art, wildlife and the miracles of nature. You can write down your 'instances of beauty' as and when you come across them.

Although you can admire and enjoy beauty without feeling a need to do anything about it, you could start a collection of photos of things you find beautiful - anything from a view or a sunset to the details of a flower, a shell or a feather - to gaze at whenever you need a lift.

Five senses meditation

Whenever things feel off balance and out of your control, the five senses meditation can connect and engage you directly and immediately with the present moment, allowing you to feel grounded, no matter what's going on around you.

1. Look - really look - around you and notice that you can see

• Search for something that you don't normally notice, like something tiny or something up high
• Notice colours, shapes, symmetry and patterns