For years I’ve heard about people taking part in the practice of gratitude journaling and despite believing fully in the power of journaling (hello Daily Aspire!), it was something that I just never tried to dive into, at least not for the long term. I have done 30 day challenges in the month of November, listing out one thing each day, but (at least for me), the practice of gratitude journaling extends further than this.
I don’t know what urged me the other week, aside from this strong power to change my outlook and the things in my life that aren’t serving me, and maybe that’s exactly what it was, but it hit me: I need to do this.
I was laying in bed and saw this old music notebook of mine that I hadn’t really ever used because I never wrote music like that. The notebook was too cute so I climbed out of bed, picked it up and decided it would be the perfect way to begin my gratitude journal. So I did.
Each night, right before I turn out the lights, I grab this little pocket-sized notebook and write out 5 things I’m grateful for that day. I allow myself to be as general or as specific as I want, but find myself falling more and more to latter of the two as it truly allows my heart to experience why I was grateful for that moment.
A few personal examples:
- Yoga to provide community in a place I have struggled to find it.
- Remembering to breathe and find my path
- Being around for little N’s birthday (my friend’s son who I call my nephew)
It’s been a little over a week now and I can tell you, I am already feeling the abundance of this practice. Because that’s what this is: an abundant practice.
It’s a practice that allows me to reflect on my day, to feel the light and love that’s out in the world, and for me to truly focus on the GOOD in each and every day, instead of falling asleep to the worry and to-do lists spinning in my mind.
[ctt title=”Focus on the GOOD in each and every day! ” tweet=”Focus on the GOOD in each and every day! via @iamkatiearnold http://ctt.ec/bH8f8+” coverup=”bH8f8″]
I would love for you to join me and feel this gratitude in your day, to change your outlook and to know you are making a real impact in your life. As I was reading my current book this morning, Chop Wood, Carry Water, while walking on the treadmill this morning, I was hit with the irony and one of today’s points was talking about how easy it is to focus on the negative and that we have to train our brains to focus on the good, but with practice, we can!
[ctt title=”We have to train our brains to focus on the good, but with practice, we can!” tweet=”We have to train our brains to focus on the good, but with practice, we can! via @iamkatiearnold http://ctt.ec/TU2jE+” coverup=”TU2jE”]
Do you have a gratitude journal?
What are you grateful for today?
What a wonderful idea! I’m going to try this tonight and hopefully it will stick 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience.
xoxo,
Kristie
http://www.kristiesreverie.com
I use the Five Minute Journal app. Each day there is an entry for the am and one for the pm. You can buy a paper Five Minute Journal, but I like the app because it lets you add a photo for each day too. (My cat features prominently in most photos–and looking at the overview, where I can see all the pictures, makes me happy.)
Bain recently posted…Sleepless Right Before Seattle: Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle 2016
I have a gratitude journal and I forget to write in it. This has inspired me to pull it out and continue.
Jessica Bradshaw recently posted…Greece Travel Series: What to do in Santorini
I also keep a daily gratitude journal and share highlights from it weekly on my blog. Practicing gratitude is so good for keeping my spirit up and always having me look on the bright side of things. Hope you get a lot out of your journaling!
I love this too–i did it for a month last year and definitely found a difference in my additude. I havent stuck with it for more than a month though!
Today I’m grateful for warm weather, delicious food, and yoga to ease stress and anxiety.
Heather @ Polyglot Jot recently posted…Birthday Recap
I don’t have a gratitude journal now, but want to create one in part of a daily journaling practice!
I did, however, do one for a year where I wrote out one (or more) things per day about my fiancé and gave it to him on thanksgiving. He LOVED it. ? (Idea inspired by The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy)
Mandie recently posted…How To Incorporate Snapchat AND Instagram Stories Into Your Social Media Plan!
I love the idea of gratitude journaling!
Love the idea of focusing on the good in everyday. There’s always 20 things we could complain about, but it’s better to focus on what good happened that day and remember the beauty in everything. Great post!
Cara recently posted…July Confessions
Katie, You are such a positive inspiration and I truly enjoy reading your posts.
I love gratitude journals and I journal as often as I can (but could do more).
Have a lovely day my friend!
Lindsay recently posted…Blog Paws Wordless Wednesday
Remembering the things that you are grateful for is so important in living a happy life. There are SO many things that are amazing that we typically take for granted. 🙂
For several years now I tell myself ten things I am grateful for each day. I haven’t ever wrote them down. Great idea.
Candy recently posted…Sautéed Fresh Green Beans
I love this!! What a great way to reflect on your day! I think I may start this!
Ashley recently posted…Twenty-Six
I have developed the habit over the last few months of taking time to write down the little happy things from each day that I want to remember, and I’m grateful for the record that I’ve been able to develop that way!
Rachel G recently posted…Silly Assumptions
I love this so much. I’m a child of pessumist and an optimist so I definitely saw both at home and knew to choose.
I chose gratitude and optimism and am choosing to teach that to my child daily too.