Gratitude Journaling
Ever thought about giving it a try? What’s all this talk about gratitude really about?
Just google Gratitude Journaling and you will get information galore. Many folks swear by it and professionals often encourage it. But why? Is it really helpful?
A Harvard Health Medical Newsletter, sited that there are many studies, completed by psychologist, that show significant positive affects of journaling a few times a week about gratitude. And that although a direct cause and affect cannot be attributed with these studies, that it seems clear that regularly reflecting on things that you are grateful for “is positively linked to feelings of happiness”.
Forbes wrote an article, citing several different studies, that states there are 7 Proven Benefits of Gratitude that include:
1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.
2. Gratitude improves physical health.
3. Gratitude improves psychological health.
4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression.
5. Grateful people sleep better.
6. Gratitude improves self-esteem.
7. Gratitude increases mental strength.
Have you thought about giving it a try?
Most of us would agree, that it benefits us much more to be grateful and appreciative than it does to be negative and self absorbed.
But where do I start? 
Starting a gratitude journal is very simple and some studies show that even 2 or 3 times a week journaling about gratitude can have a great benefit. So to begin, just simply set your days and your times you will be intentional about journaling. No worries if you are short on time, 10 -15 minutes at a time will be all you need.
Decide on how you will journal. Are you a blogger? What a great way to express your gratitude, and feed your blogging desire. Are you more of a phone app kind of person? There of course, is an APP for that. Or maybe you prefer a handwritten approach. Having a special journal to write your thoughts is a wonderful idea, but not necessary. You can get started with nothing more than pad of paper and a pencil.
How do I start?
That can be daunting for many of us! Especially, if you are really struggling in life and it feels like there is so little in your life to be grateful for. Important to remember, that gratefulness and happiness are linked but not synonymous. You do not need to be happy to be grateful, but you do need to grateful to be happy. If you are struggling with where to begin, begin with the smallest of things: are there things you have in your life that you simply couldn’t live without? For example, do you have a warm place to sleep, or enough food to eat? Those are great things to be grateful for!
There are also many Books and Journals out there to help you along the way, as well as websites. Amazon lists over 7000!!! If you are low on ideas they are easy to find, just with a few keystrokes. The Book “52 Week Challenge” gives new ideas and thoughts to write about each week for a whole year. You can take these same ideas and elaborate however you wish.
What do you have to lose?
Gratitude Journaling is one of those things where there is nothing to lose (except maybe some negativity), and everything to gain. It costs nothing, takes very little time and/or effort and you stand to increase so many positive things in your life. Why not give it a whirl?
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