Developing spirituality in your life comes to you in many different forms. One of the ways is to create a Gratitude Journal as a tool to recognize the gifts that life has to offer you.
An exceptional book that you captured your gratitude thoughts around what is happening in your life.
The journal is not a Polly Anna effort, rather recognition that good things are happening in your life now, and you choose to create a happier life.
Gratitude is Powerful!!!
Many of us notice the ‘bad’ stuff that happens in our lives and doesn’t take the time to honor and enjoy what is working in our lives as well.
I read an article on Mindvalley.com, where they mentioned David Steindl-Rast or Brother David, who founded Gratefulness.org. Mindvalley.com shared a portion of the David Steindl-Rast Ted Talk:
“What is the connection between happiness and gratefulness?
Many people would say, well, that’s very easy.
When you are happy, you are grateful. But think again. Is it the happy people that are grateful?
We all know several people who have everything that it would take to be happy, and they are not happy, because they want something else or they want more of the same.
And we all know people who have lots of misfortune, the misfortune that we ourselves would not want to have, and they are deeply happy. They radiate happiness.
You are surprised. Why? Because they are grateful. So it is not happiness that makes us grateful. It’s gratefulness that makes us happy.”
I am grateful to MindValley.com and David Steindl-Rast for their online presence as it created a stronger gratitude commitment for me. One link directed me to another, and another…how powerful is that.
Generally, people who practice gratitude are happier because they see the good that happens in their lives. Funny, the more you acknowledge the good, the more it seems to surface more in your life. It works for the negative as well, so why not choose the ‘happier’ thoughts.
Creating a gratitude journal doesn’t mean that challenging times no longer come into your life, rather, because you have practiced positive energy thoughts into your life, handling the challenging times is easier in every experience.
One way to start a gratitude journal is as soon as you wake up to start your day with gratitude; for example, “I am alive another day,” or “The people I love are alive.” Another time is at the end of your day, start by writing 3-5 things you are grateful about that happened during the day. Anytime is good to write in your gratitude journal. Create a ritual around your gratitude journal time – candle or a warm drink before sitting down as this lets your mind know it’s time to think what made you happy today.
Keep in mind, no matter what is happening in your life; there is always something you can be grateful about at the moment.
Benefits of Gratitude
Being grateful isn’t only about big things, how about that delicious cup of coffee you had just when you needed a boost, or the kindness someone showed you, or gratitude that you completed a project.
Gratitude practice helps our health, reduces stress, enhances our relationships, increases our self-love, and adds more happiness in our lives.
Check out this article on Gratefulness.org “Ten True Things About Gratefulness: A Conversation with Kristi Nelson.”
Small or big things that occur during your day are all opportunities to feel gratitude in your life.
Start a gratitude practice!
Your Thoughts
Have you created a gratitude journal? If so, what benefits have you gained by the experience? Have you thought about doing it, but for some reason never find the time to do it? Do you have 5 minutes a day to capture the good things in your life?
Women’s Group Topics
A perfect topic to enhance the happiness for each member of the group. Gratitude is powerful, and each person’s gratitude increases an individual’s well being. Have a gratitude session and then keep each other accountable to start a daily practice of gratitude.
Be well,
Pat
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