Gratitude Journaling

I have never been a journal/diary kind of girl. I remember many different birthday parties receiving diaries as gifts from friends that never got written in. It just wasn’t me. However I have now found what fits me. Gratitude Journaling.

Different people journal for different reasons so you have to find what works for you. I was going through a hard time in my life and was feeling surrounded by negativity. I needed a way to help myself stay focused on the positive things in my life. My husband actually was the one that mentioned a gratitude journal. He had found himself in a conversation with someone who was talking about studies that have been done showing the benefits of simply writing down things you are thankful for. I decided I would give it a try. I don’t write in it everyday but I am getting better at it. For me this is a way I can show God that I appreciate what he has given me. There are so many times we get caught up in life and don’t think about how blessed we really are. God gives us so much and we ALL could do better at thanking him for what he gives us.

Everyone has their own way to do their journals but I find for me it works best to write down 3 things every day. Some people may want to write more or not limit themselves to a number but this is what works for me. I also decided to give my journal a “theme.” This is not something you have to do but I felt it was what I needed to do. I write 3 things I am grateful for about my husband. Sometimes it is as simple as his smile and other days it may be something great he has done. Any married person can attest to the fact that there are days when finding things to be grateful for about your spouse can be really hard. Ever since I have started doing this I have found that I am more aware of the reasons I love my husband and why God planned for us to be together.

There is no right or wrong way to write a gratitude journal but this is the format I use.

Date

Today I am grateful for…

1.

2.

3.

Easy as that!