What is a Gratitude Journal?

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You probably have heard about gratitude journals and may have questions about what it is and what it can do for you.

A gratitude journal won’t change your life circumstances, but it very well may change your life perspective. This is why a gratitude journal is a worthy investment of time and effort. This type of journal is simply a space to record what you are thankful for.

By recording and also by determining items to record, both positive vibes and overall positivity may increase in your life. While the mundane and necessary parts of life will still exist, they may fade in light of a heightened awareness of goodness and wonder. Keeping a gratitude journal can make life’s burdens feel lighter or at least more balanced.

If you’re on a mission to start journaling this year, it doesn’t get much easier than a gratitude journal. With this type of journal, you can write as much or as little as you want every day, use any type of notebook, and just write down what you are grateful for.

Not only will this be a very therapeutic experience for you, but it can provide a lot of other benefits as well.

Here is more information about a gratitude journal, including why you should consider starting this type of journal and some tips for getting started.

Benefits of Keeping a Gratitude Journal  

It’s a reality that life has ups and downs, and these fluctuations often involve accompanying emotions.

You still the personal willpower to make choices about how to deal with circumstances and upturns and downturns. A lot revolves around having choices, although people don’t always feel that they have any choices.

Being thankful or joyful may be a conscious choice and embracing that by deciding to record the good in life is a great way to acknowledge that good always exists. Making the decision to focus on and record what is good often leads to feelings of calm and even control.

It Helps with Reflection

Instead of going to bed with a racing heart and racing thoughts, try preparing for slumber by reflecting on the day’s happenings and choosing to record some positive moments and experiences. Likewise, instead of waking up and checking technology immediately, try having a slow cup of coffee and focusing on all that is currently good in life. This can be a very peaceful way to both end and greet a new day.

Have a Positive Attitude

Rereading previously written entries is also a great way to remind yourself of the positive attributes of the important people in your life. The entries may even be helpful if you decide to share them with family members and friends. Who wouldn’t feel valued to know that you recorded something positive about him or her on a certain day? Rereading past thanks is also a great way to see patterns of good in your own life and surroundings.

Less Writing is Involved

Gratitude journals are often quicker to write in than full-out personal journals because they provide a quick snapshot into a span of time. If you don’t have time to write out a full narrative, jotting down some quick notes of thanks is perfect. When you are feeling glum or having trouble seeing the light, reread your previous entries and gain a new slant on all that is right with your life, past and present.

Whether you are brand new to journaling and want a simple one to start with, or you are looking to expand your journal collection, the gratitude journal is an excellent one to start with today.

Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal

There is no wrong way to begin and keep a gratitude journal. It’s perfectly acceptable to add a prescribed number of entries each day, or to keep the journal in a convenient place and to write thankful thoughts when the mood strikes. When writing a prescribed number of thanks entries per day, it is best to keep the number manageable. Ten or less per day is probably a reasonable number.

Try to Write in it Daily

It may prove helpful to write thanks daily in the beginning so that recording thanks becomes a helpful habit. If writing daily, try to find a certain time of day or night that works best for your schedule, or use a few minutes both morning and night to record thanks. The last thing you want to do is make the journal keeping feel like a chore or something on a never-ending to-do list. The point is to have free-flowing praise and a written record of it.

Use the Best Type of Notebook or Journal

You may keep the thanks in a common spiral bound notebook, in a homemade notebook, or in a pretty premade journal that appeals to you. As you record your thanks, write the date above each entry or set of entries. If you like, include the time and even temperature and conditions. Consider numbering the entries as well.

Think About Goals

Create your own target number of entries to hit and find out if you want to continue after achieving that goal. For those who wish to keep their thanks in a digital form, there are even gratitude journal apps. Some offer the chance to rate each day and to receive inspirational quotes. Others offer the chance to add photos. Search around for an app that works for you and your needs, as well as price point device.

Gratitude journals are some of the most popular types of journals. They really can help refocus you.

You may be wondering why is there so much about journals on this blog?

Answer: I am opening my own journal shop in a few days!

 

More to come soon!

Loving Life–The Reboot!

Dominique