Finding gratitude in this new year

gratitude2015

Today I am thankful for… New Years/new beginnings, snow, good food, my comfy bed, my past adventures, the sun, my cats, reading, meditation, etc. These are a few of the entries from my gratitude journal that I started at the beginning of this year (funky drawings included!).

I’ve been wanting to start a gratitude journal for years and I have, but stopped, and started again, but stopped again. Until this year. I decided that since I spend quite a lot of my time on my iPad, especially in the evenings, that maybe it’d be easier, and I’d be more likely to keep a gratitude journal, if I had it on my iPad. So far, so good! I was even able to find an app that allows both writing and drawing. While I wish I could have stuck with my paperback journal, it just wasn’t working for me.

After watching this video from Marie Forleo, I decided to choose one subject per day that I’m grateful for with five things in particular I’m grateful for about that one subject. This way, I really take time to think about what I’m grateful for and it boosts my mood.

I can’t say with 100% confidence that it’s thanks to my gratitude journal, but so far… 2015 has been really good to me. My main goal this year is to allow myself to be happy. I say allow, because I feel that I (i.e. my thoughts) often get in the way of my happiness and I don’t want that to prevent me from optimal happiness for the rest of my life, so I’m trying to break the cycle now.

Either way, whether my gratitude journal is helping me in the long run or not, the fact that I go to bed a little happier each day, is totally worth it!

Let me know!: Do you keep a gratitude journal? Do you express your gratitude in other ways? Do you think it helps or would help with your overall happiness? Did you make any resolutions this year? If so, what are they?

Comments

Brandi
16 January 2015 - 11:46 am

I just finished reading The Big Leap, a book that’s all about how we get in the way of our happiness. And I know I do as well. Lately, I’ve found myself awake in the middle of the night just worrying about things. When I have that much negativity in my life, I know it needs to be counteracted with things like gratitude. I’m really trying to get better at writing down a few things I’m grateful for and why (I use Evernote), but I think my day really needs to be a gratitude sandwich — gratitude in the morning, gratitude in the evening, and sprinkles of gratitude throughout the day. I know it’s an important habit for me to develop, but like any habit, it takes time…

Greenderella
17 January 2015 - 4:05 pm

First of all: cute drawings! πŸ™‚ And I love the idea of writing a gratitude journal. I never had one but I try to make gratitude part of my day whenever I come across something that brings me joy. I try to notice the small beautiful things and when I do, I’m grateful for it instantly. For example, often when I just walk, I think about how amazing it is to be able to walk and it makes me so happy in that moment. Sometimes I even start running or jumping (but only when no one is around, haha). But maybe I should also start a journal… it’s a nice way to keep those joyful moments and also remember them later (when you’re old, you can be grateful that you were grateful when you were young ;-)).

Helen
17 January 2015 - 4:52 pm

Totally get where you’re coming from when you talk about allowing yourself to be happy. Our mind is our most fearsome ally/opponent: once we control our mind, we are truly the ‘captains of our ships’ (as the poem Invictus goes)…..I’m going to give Marie’s trick a try for the next week (I feel my gratitude practice becoming a little stale)….I’ll keep you posted πŸ˜‰ Have a lovely weekend xxxxxx

Elisa
18 January 2015 - 4:00 pm

Yay for feeling grateful! I think it’s a wonderful way to approach life. Whatever is in the glass, you enjoy it a lot more if you don’t keep thinking about the half-empty bit πŸ˜‰

I don’t keep a gratitude journal, but I do make an effort to focus on small things that make me happy, at least once a week. For the most part, I don’t have a hard time finding things for the list – I am pretty lucky πŸ™‚

Wild Hearts + Green Tea
18 January 2015 - 8:38 pm

This is lovely. I’ve wanted to keep a gratitude journal as well but the journaling isn’t really working out for me either, and I don’t seem to enjoy typing on my computer or iPad as satisfying when it comes to writing your personal thoughts. But I really like this and it’s reminding me I need to get on with it πŸ™‚

Ola
20 January 2015 - 12:15 pm

I have never heard of such a journal and it’s good to appreciate what we have…

Chelsea
20 January 2015 - 1:34 pm

I like that! I don’t keep an actual journal per say but my blog is kinda a gratitude journal- it forces me to seek the happy, write about light and it has made all the difference in my life.

http://www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

April
23 January 2015 - 2:22 am

I work with young children. I teach them that happiness can be found in the happiness of others. I think being observant of others and their feelings is very important! Your journal is great! This is an idea that I could adapt to help my kiddos overcome some of their negativity. Thanks for this post!





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