Why You Want a Gratitude Journal!

“The secret of happiness is to count your blessings
while others are adding up their troubles
– William Penn

One way to stay connected to life’s joys and blessings is to keep a gratitude journal. With all the stress we deal with on a consistent basis, the more positive aspects of life often get pushed aside or taken for granted. A gratitude journal can help highlight special moments and experiences by keeping them fresh and easily accessible in our hearts and minds.

• Why You Want a Gratitude Journal!
• Invite Positive Energy into Your Life
• Make Your Wishes Come True!

All you need to do is record in your notebook three to five recent events or activities for which you are thankful. You can carry out this exercise daily, weekly or as often as you like. However, like many things in life, the more you do it, the higher the benefits. It is best to practice it with some regularity as long as it continues to be a pleasure rather than a chore!

Here are some tips for creating your gratitude journal:

1. Procure a notebook or notepad to dedicate specifically to this activity.
2. Write down whatever it is that brought you joy that day. It can be something big, such as a friend visiting from far away, or small, like a flower blooming in your garden or a favorite song playing on the radio. What’s important is that the event warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.
3. Write down whatever events or incidents in your recent past that brought you joy. It can be something substantial or out of the ordinary, such as a friend visiting from out of town, or a small. but touching incident, such as flower blooming in your garden or a favorite song playing on the radio. What’s important is that the events warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.
4. Try to include as much detail as possible. By delving a little deeper into the happiness invoked by a particular event or situation, you may discover something profound about yourself or the incident. Feel free to follow these directions loosely. Go with what feels right to you. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
5. Set aside an initial time limit for the exercise and then evaluate benefits it brings you. After a certain time frame, such a couple of weeks or a month, take stock on how you feel about it. Are you in a better frame of mind after having done it? Do you want to continue? Do you find that you have been focusing more on what brings you joy and less on challenges and worries? While this exercise won’t make problems disappear, hopefully they will become more manageable and less burdensome for you.
6. Above all, remember that an appreciation and recognition of the positive moments in life should make you feel good!

Our hope is that this exercise helps to reinforce and enrich your life!