2019 was such a year of growth for me. I’m not sure others may have noticed as much as I did, but I can feel it deep inside. And, honestly, that’s what matters most right now.
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [Learn more]
Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
After losing my mom in 2017, depression hit me hard during the grief process and my physical health took a pretty hard hit as well.
Climbing back from that was only made easier through the birth of our granddaughter.
I would never want to put the idea of her being “my Savior” on her, but she sure helped my healing.
As I began to feel healthier physically, I knew I still needed to work on the inside matters. My mental health.
I’ve always struggled with anxiety, but I desperately wanted to find a way to start working through that. I yearned for a way to simply be more happy in my day-to-day life.
Therefore, I started researching ways to find that inner peace, that happiness I was searching for. It wasn’t that my life lacked those moments, my brain simply couldn’t feel them the way I thought it should.
This is when I discovered the thing I was missing: gratitude.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m incredibly grateful for the things I have in my life. Most importantly, the people in my life.
I’ve already mentioned my granddaughter. The love I have for her is simply indescribable. That whole thing about the love you have for your grandchildren being different than the love for your children is so true!
She brings such joy to all of us.
Then there’s my husband. Colby is my rock. He has been for over 28 years. We’ve been through some things, but it’s made us stronger. Besides, he knows me better than I know myself and he keeps me grounded.
I need that sometimes. Honestly, who am I kidding. I need it a lot!
And my children? My son-in-law? Oh goodness. The make me laugh, make me cry, make me mad, and make me feel loved. Love them all beyond measure.
Together, the eight of them, they keep me going on the hard days and hold me up when I’m weak.
But, even with all of that, I still needed to continue digging deeper within myself. I came into adulthood carrying a lot of baggage and it was time to start unpacking some of it.
How do I start practicing gratitude?
Through my research and need for a change in my own life, the idea for 365 Days of Gratitude: Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude One Day at a Time was born.
I began reading all I could about the “What-Went-Well” exercise developed by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, the father of Positive Psychology, and author of the book, Flourish.
Although it is simple in its execution, it has been known to have lasting effects on your happiness and attitude of gratitude.
What is the purpose of gratitude journal?
365 Days of Gratitude is a guided journal to help you begin to develop and cultivate an attitude of gratitude through daily written exercises.
Each night before bed, grab the journal and jot down three things that went well that day. Additionally, go a step further and write a sentence about why it went well.
What do you write in a gratitude journal?
The prompts are designed to encourage you to focus on the good in your life. People, things, events, and emotions that elicit good feelings.
As you begin to journal through the prompts, try to be specific in your responses. When we hone in on the specifics, we are better able to appreciate the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of the memory.
Do gratitude journals really work?
Depending on how deep you choose to lean into each of the exercises, you will see an increase in your happiness and gratitude that could have life-altering effects on how you view the world around you.
Not only am I journaling through the gratitude exercises this year, but I am also encouraging my children, sister, and niece to do the same.
It’s been a tough couple of years and I believe we could all use a shift in our thinking.
The journal is NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon.com and I am so happy to finally be able to share it with you!
Does gratitude journaling make you happier?
I’ve been working on it for months, doing the research, gathering the materials, and formatting the journal in a way that I hope works for everyone.
I hope you’ll take this first step with me towards appreciating more of the world around you and being grateful for the little things with this journal.
Share the practice with family and friends, as I have, by gifting this journal to others and spread the happiness around.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
Anonymous
