Keep a gratitude journal to uncover small moments that make life special
“Have an attitude of gratitude." I have preached those words to my kids for as long as I can remember. This year I decided to take my own advice and start a gratitude journal.
I had read about the benefits of activating gratitude, and I was excited to see if it worked. I bought a cheap journal, and committed to writing three things that I felt grateful for each day starting in January.
I was curious what would rise to the surface as my pen hovered over the paper in the days ahead. Would it be difficult to fill an entire book given our ordinary daily routine of school, work and sport activities?
What surprised me the most is that the most ordinary things ended up in my daily journal entries. Here are a few examples:
Jan. 6:
- Watching Netflix with my hubby
- Shopping with Quinn
- Walking the dog without my phone
Oct. 1:
- Warm soup
- Helpful kids
- Clarity and desire to do better
Jan. 22:
- Snow
- Sledding
- Making memories
July 6:
- Playing cards with the kids
- Talking to my dad
- Running in the rain
It turns out that I found the largest amount of gratitude in the littlest of things. That realization opened my eyes and has made me acutely aware of the true joys in life. I am now able to activate gratitude in the moment. I find myself intentionally pausing and soaking in sunsets or the leaves changing color. Things that I normally took for granted are now a reason to give thanks. That attitude of gratitude has really changed my mindset and made me fully appreciate life.
Even more reasons to practice gratitude
Research shows the benefits of practicing gratitude include:
- Sleep better
- Express more compassion and kindness
- Reduce stress, burnout and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Increase resilience
- Foster hope for the future
- Build stronger relationships
- Improve health - even a stronger immune system
Three ideas to activate gratitude in your life
- Make it a Routine - Think of three things you are grateful for each day (a warm bed or a good meal). It’s amazing what you notice when you give thanks.
- Start a Gratitude Journal - Making a commitment to writing down good things each day makes it more likely that we will notice good things as they happen.
- Practice Gratitude Rituals - Show your appreciation to someone who has done something nice. Commit an act of kindness or tell people in your life what they mean to you. Gratitude can change your life and their life too!
