Make Every Day Count: Why You Should Start a Gratitude Journal and How to Begin
“Give thanks always. It’s the greatest prayer we can offer, the greatest practice we can do.”
— Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal
I truly believe practicing on a regular basis will bring about more positive changes than anything you've tried before.
There's tons of research into the benefits of a daily gratitude practice, and I've heard from readers all over the world about how using the gratitude practices found inside my books have changed their lives.
Affirmations, goal setting, these are all helpful, but to really change the negative thoughts getting in the way of living your best life, you must change them at a deep, emotional level so the change can become permanent.
Gratitude gets your heart involved, not just your mind, and that's where real change begins.
What I've learned from practicing gratitude for many years now is that your heart is like a giant magnet. It's the key to creating what you want, and releasing what you don't.
P.S. If you want to learn more about how I went from being not into gratitude journaling, to becoming a true believer, watch this video.
Watch Now: How to Start a Gratitude Journal (And Why They Actually Work)
To get started with your gratitude journaling practice, follow these simple instructions:
Choose a time of day to write in your journal
Each day, select a time to complete your gratitude journaling.
I personally write in my gratitude journal at the end of the day as my wind-down ritual, but I know many people who like to journal in the morning to start their day off in a positive direction.
My advice? Do whatever works best for you, and your life.
Think about what you’re grateful for
Think about what’s happening in your life at the moment; reflect on the people you know, the places you live and work, your day-to-day events. Does something stand out?
That’s your gratitude for the day.
Have an open mind
Don’t judge whatever comes up. Be open to whatever your heart and your intuition tell you to be thankful for.
Giving gratitude for anything, no matter what it is, is powerful.
Allow yourself to feel gratitude
Once you’ve come up with your gratitude for the day, allow yourself to let the feeling of gratitude come into your body.
Gratitude is a powerful, healing emotion that will instantly release your stress and tension—let it linger in your heart for a little while. Take some deep breaths and enjoy the feeling.
Note your gratitude
Write down what you’re grateful for and why. Use the prompt “I’m thankful for ______ today because…” and fill it in as completely as possible.
Don’t worry if your handwriting is messy, or it’s not all centered on the page. It doesn’t matter. Just let go, and write your gratitudes however they come out. Add some stickers, photos, or other special mementos that help you celebrate gratitude.
The point is, flow and have fun with it!
Keep it in a special place
There’s something about being able to hold gratitude in your hands that’s really special, which is why I encourage you to store it in a physical place.
I like physical items like jars and journals to hold my gratitudes, because when you have them lying around your home, you get a boost of gratitude every time you see them.
Share it with someone else
Sharing your gratitude practice with another person is amazingly powerful, and I sincerely believe it will greatly enhance your results, which is why the Give Thanks Guided Journal has two pages for each day so you can practice gratitude together.
Having a "gratitude partner" keeps you accountable along with providing extra support and motivation throughout your practice.
Of course, you journal on your own if you’d like to, and if you do you’ll still experience all the wonderful benefits that a daily gratitude practice provides. But in my opinion, sharing gratitude with another person is pure miracle-making.
All that really matters is that you practice gratitude in the way that works best for YOU. Any way you decide to give thanks will heal your life on so many levels!
