Sometimes it is difficult to remember to be thankful for the good things, big and small, in life when we hit a snag and life takes a down-turn. At these times it becomes easy to block out the positive details of the day, forgetting that each and every day holds precious gifts.
From the air we breathe to the friendships we hold close, there is always something to be thankful for.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
― Melody Beattie
An effective way to remind ourselves to be grateful is to keep a gratitude journal. This can increase your happiness levels by 25% over just 10 weeks, as shown by Dr. Robert Emmons’ research.
Not only were the participants who kept a gratitude journal happier, they also had more hope for the future, and they fell sick less often.
How To start a gratitude journal
Step 1: Invest in a notebook and pen, and put them on your bedside table.
Step 2: Every night before you go to sleep, jot down a few things that you were thankful for on that day. (Don’t worry about how “big” or “small” these things are.)
Here are some examples of what you might write:
Passing a test
Sharing a joke with a colleague or a friend
Enjoying a good meal
Family time
Enjoying nature – walking, cycling
Gardening – watching your plants grow
Good health
Life has its ups and downs. Throughout we have a lot to be thankful for. Keeping a journal helps us when we need a reminder that we have many blessings to be thankful for.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
—Willie Nelson
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