Gratitude Journaling

There were several small things I started doing that I feel cushioned my landing and made me capable of getting back up so successfully. When I say little things, I mean LITTLE things that made a big impact psychologically. For example, after having a draining day and looking at a pile of dishes, instead of retreating to the couch with the intention of doing them later I’d just do it. I had begun to focus on everything that I could do now, no matter how I was feeling internally.

I started a gratitude journal where I would list 3 things that I was grateful for. For months I had already been making sure that when I woke up I would think of and acknowledge these things, per the advice of self help books and articles. This was good, but I found myself repeating very generic things such as my children’s health, a roof over my head, food. I realized what I was focusing on being grateful for needed to be specific and within the present, so I found a private online journal (Penmia) where I would physically and mentally spend some time generating new things to be grateful for on that specific day, that I could look back on and not repeat. I delayed this for a long time because I wanted the perfect journal to old fashioned write in, but you have to work with what you have. After the first few days it became tedious. I missed several days, but eventually I made it part of my routine and it truly does eventually make a difference in your thought process. Later, I would discover something called “The Morning Pages” suggest by Julia Cameron in the book The Artists Way, which would revolutionize the organization of my brain, but that is a post in its own.

I believe the minute changes and the gratitude journal, such small and easy steps, prepared me to be able to live in the present. This is such a key point in transforming yourself. It allows you to let go of the fear of the future, the anxiety that come with the need for things to be better before you an be happy, and the unease of being haunted by the past. Do it.

My advice: Start a gratitude journal. If you don’t have a journal, use a composition book, if you don’t have a composition book use an online private journal. Whatever it takes, just do it. Write 3–5 things as close to the beginning of your day as possible that you are grateful for that day. From hitting all green lights to your friend coming home from the hospital. You can make it brief or you can expand on it. Whatever you feel capable of… and STICK TO IT. Do your best to do it every day for a month and see how it feels.