Journaling goes a long way to helping you create the life you desire. You can start with something simple like a list of 3-5 things you are thankful for each day. However, do yourself a favor once you are comfortable in this space, push it further.
Don’t just go through the motions. To reap full benefit of the gratitude journal make the conscious decision to become happier and more grateful. This isn’t a chore to scratch off your to-do list each day. It’s a gift you give yourself and it’s FREE!
Go for quality not quantity. If you have just one fabulous thing to be grateful for then write about it with gusto. Give it attention and detail as you write about it. A list of five superficial things isn’t the goal here.
Get personal. Things don’t make you warm and fuzzy. People do. Focus on people who touched you in a special way and express your gratitude in your journal (or in a hand written note to them!).
Work backwards. Instead of amassing a long list of good stuff, take a moment to imagine life without certain blessings in your life.
Celebrate surprises. Did something unexpected happen today? Document it and how it made you feel. The surprising spice of life is sometimes the thing that brings stronger feelings of gratitude to the surface.
When it comes to creating a gratitude practice, do what’s comfortable. Again, remember, it isn’t a chore to scratch off your list. Journaling your feelings of gratitude is a gift you give yourself. If you only feel “it” once a week then so be it, but make it mean something to you. Dig deep and make it quality over quantity.
Other Ideas to Practice Gratitude Daily
• Do you like to take pictures like I do? Then snap a shot of a person, place or thing you’re grateful for. Maybe start an album for just these pictures and every so often create a slideshow with music to relive the moments and memories.
• Surround yourself with positive quotes and images. I have a collection of inspiring (to me) quotes that I have shuffle through my desktop. Good mojo! Want to take it deeper? Associate specific experiences or people in your life to a quote or two.
• Love yourself. No really…I mean get a pen and paper and write a list of the top 20 most fabulous things about YOU. Don’t be shy. We are all fabulous in our own unique way.
• When you are ready to test your gratitude mettle make a list of 5 people in your life who are difficult to get along with. More than 5? Just focus on 5 at a time! For each of those people, write a list of 3-10 qualities for which you’re grateful. This one is powerful. Don’t be afraid to give it a whirl.
Let’s start today! Want to? 🙂