There are countless reasons to want to keep a journal. One of the most popular journals for self-help and positive living is a gratitude journal.
What’s a Gratitude Journal?
In our society of instant gratification and constant focus on acquiring more, being grateful for what we already have is often overlooked. A gratitude journal helps us to become aware of where we are now, including those daily blessings in our lives that we take for granted. Journaling about what we’re grateful for is the perfect way to “be in the present moment”. While this Taking a moment to focus on these things can be instrumental in lifting our mood and creating a more positive attitude and outlook. A gratitude journal offers a great way to discern those things in your life that are important and what works for you and what might need work.
How to Set Up a Gratitude Journal
Rhonda Byrne, author and creator of “The Secret” series of books, suggests listing the things you are grateful for in your journal every day for 10 -15 minutes. This can be part of your morning routine. Byrne also suggests adding to it throughout the day as you think of more things that you are grateful for. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply write something such as,
“I am grateful for…”
“Thank you for…”
“I am so happy and grateful for…”
The key to a successful gratitude journal is to keep it positive and write out your entries with as much detail as possible.
Ideas for Your Gratitude Journal
One way to jumpstart your gratitude journal is to make use of journaling prompts such as recalling a special memory from childhood, describing something beautiful that you saw that day, or writing out what accomplishments in your life made you the most happy.
Your leatherbound gratitude journal will be enhanced through brainstorming and mind mapping, adding color, or other artistic elements to its pages.
A gratitude journal can work a little like a reverse bucket list. Success author Jack Canfield says that things that create joy and gratitude in our lives serve as a kind of inner guidance system for us. He suggests listing unique personal qualities such as enthusiasm and creativity. Expressing these qualities increases a feeling of well-being and will in turn create even more opportunities and situations in our lives that inspire a feeling of thankfulness. In other words, gratitude begets gratitude.
You may also find things to be thankful for by simply looking back over your past journals. Remembering past trips that you took, or discovering snippets of stories or special big and small moments in life that you may have forgotten about can help foster new growth and uncover even more things to be grateful for.
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