Benefits of Gratitude Journal Writing

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging to take a moment to appreciate life and see where you are today and how far you have come. We are in a constant state of moving to the next thing without giving ourselves permission to stop, reflect and be thankful. This is where keeping a gratitude journal can help.

Gratitude journaling is the habit of setting aside regular time to stop and record all the things for which you are grateful. This can also be called counting our blessings.

Granted, life is hard at times, and we don’t always feel good about ourselves and our situations. However, that does not mean that there is nothing for which to be grateful, even in those moments.

This is not to be confused with toxic positivity. Gratitude journaling does not advocate for a life where we do not acknowledge the bad in life. Instead, it encourages us to shift our focus to the good aspects of life, because most of us are automatically geared to focus on the negative.

Benefits of journal writing.

Apart from the initial excitement and energy boost just in starting something new, gratitude journaling has many benefits. Studies on gratitude journaling have proven that it aids in improving mental health, physical health, motivation, and contentment with your life. Below are the additional benefits of starting a gratitude journal:

• It provides an opportunity for self-reflection which can aid in self-awareness and self-improvement.
• It lowers stress levels by focusing on something positive. Even the mere act of remembering positive aspects of your day can boost your mood.
• Gratitude journaling helps in living a more intentional life. After seeing those things that make us happy, proud, and loved, we are more intentional in seeking those moments.
• It can be a great source of encouragement on days when life is hard. It helps us see our past accomplishments, acts of kindness, or our connection circles. It makes us realize we can overcome like we did before and have others by our side if we ever need help.
• It grants us the opportunity to celebrate ourselves, which is a struggle for many of us. Gratitude journals highlight our achievements, improvements and accomplishments.

How to start a gratitude journal

Starting a gratitude journal isn’t complicated. Here are some simple steps to consider.

Be creative.

To make the process of journal writing more appealing, be creative about it. Buy a journal that looks nice and decorate it how you want. Part of being creative is also making sure you have a dedicated space for journaling that gives you a lovely atmosphere in which to record your thoughts.

Choose a set time.

Set a time each day to consistently do your gratitude entries. Whether it be every day or three times a week, it helps to keep that time slot. This helps with anticipation and trains your brain to be on the look for gratitude prompts.

Write down for what you are grateful. The format of what to include can be as personal as you want. However, the goal is to record everything for which you are grateful on that day or in that time frame. This can include people, experiences, material things, or what others did for you.

In time, it can be categorized into specific sections that seek to answer certain questions. Examples include the following:

• Name the people you are grateful for and mention why.
• What do you love the most about nature?
• Where have you gone lately that has uplifted you?
• What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
• Which people in your family stir your gratitude?
• Which fashion or beauty tip have you adopted and how has it made you feel?

The list can go on, but the above questions are to show how many angles gratitude journaling can take so it does not become monotonous.

Do not write about any negative things.

As mentioned earlier, the gratitude journal is solely dedicated to things for which we are grateful. You can have other notebooks and journals to use alongside the gratitude journal in which you can process all the other aspects of life.

We can help.

For us to make gratitude a natural way of life, we need the right tools and skills to start and maintain the habit. If you need more assistance in choosing gratitude and overcoming negativity, please get in touch with a Christian counselor at Beverly Hills Christian Counseling who will be happy to help address your unique situation.