Thank you. I am grateful.
Today is nothing special. Nothing extra ordinary happened. I didn’t find a $20 bill on the ground, and it’s not sunny out. In fact, it has been raining for the past three days. I am just grateful for what I have, and I’m not worrying about what I don’t.
- I am grateful for the book I am reading (The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt)
- I am grateful for the brief moments of sunshine
- I am grateful for my toothpaste (it tastes like candy).
Every day I wake up and write a list of 3 things that I am grateful for. This was today’s list straight out of my gratitude journal. Why would I do this? Well…
Optimism
It rewires my brain to look for what makes me happy. Too often, people, including myself, wake up and the first thought in the morning is “I didn’t get enough sleep.” This thought quickly turns into, “I’m not awake enough for the day… I can’t get up… I’m not going to be successful because I don’t have enough mental power…” and so on. Grateful journaling in the morning forces me to have positive thoughts that carry momentum throughout the day.
Productivity
If I start off my day with journaling, I will be more productive and purposeful. I start my morning with something productive to improve myself, which again has momentum that carries over throughout the day. I feel more inclined to do what I should be doing because the first thing I did in the morning was what I should be doing.
Focus
It keeps me focused on what will bring me closer to happiness and fulfillment. If I write down things that I am grateful for that pertains to one of my goals, the journaling has the power to keep me focused. If I wake up every day and journal about how hard I have been working towards creating a healthy lifestyle, I will be more inclined to uphold those things I am grateful for. For example, “I am grateful for the gym being down the street from me, or I am grateful for the vegetables I bought yesterday.” If I focus on what brings me success, I will follow up with those things I am focusing on.
How to keep a gratitude journal
Think about a goal, an event, a person, or a thing that you are grateful for. Write it down. “I am grateful for…” It is that simple. It doesn’t have to be too specific. Feel free to write anything you want. It can be as simple as a hot coffee or a comfy bed. It can also be more specific, such as my friend Steve, who is always there when I am feeling down. Try writing three things every day.
This is a gratitude journal, which means, WRITE IT DOWN. You might feel lazy and think it’s fine if you just think about it. I understand how you might feel this way; I used to do the same thing. But, it is more meaningful if you write it down. Gratitude journaling only works if you can articulate your thoughts. i.e. writing it out.
Every morning, write out, I am grateful for…
