A gratitude journal is a compilation of what makes you feel grateful; you’re shining a spotlight on the blessings and beauty in your life. When you’re aligned with feelings of gratitude, you nourish positive thoughts and a growth mindset that permeates every area of your life. There’s no wrong way to keep a gratitude journal, but you can read on to find basic instructions, including helpful tips and gratitude journal prompts.
Why Journal?
By nature, we reinforce positive, loving thoughts and feelings for ourselves and others as we perceive blessings in our life. However, we can deepen our sense of gratitude with additional tools, like journaling. Journaling is a productive way to reflect on your thoughts and feelings for upliftment or growth.
Why Grow Your Gratitude?
Inner happiness and a sense of well-being imminently blossom when you honor all the beauty within your life. This garden of peace within is always available, sunny and stormy times alike.
Your relationships strengthen when you’re grounded in gratitude (naturally contributing to your social well-being)!
Maintaining an attitude of gratitude supports total wellness (physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually)—every facet of your being benefits.
Recognizing the beauty or goodness within and around you attracts more of that goodness.
A gratitude journal is one practical way to grow your gratitude (you can explore more ways here).
Creating Your Gratitude Journal
We’ve established the rationale for keeping a gratitude journal; it’s time to create your journal. First, choose a blank diary or notebook (or, if you prefer, purchase a journal with writing prompts). Then, if desired, decorate or personalize your journal.
Gratitude Journaling Basics
Journal freely about anything that makes you feel thankful, happy, and blessed. But do try to reflect on why you’re grateful as you compose. Elaborate on your whys (feelings and all) within your journal entries to amplify your heartfelt appreciation and provide authentic insight.
Journal prompts are another option if you need journaling inspiration. A template like, “Today I am most grateful for____ because ____ does well enough for daily journaling, but there are other options if you want to mix things up (you’ll find several below).
Honestly, how you journal comes down to personal preference, and you may develop your own style as you plug along. But here are a few additional tips before you start your journaling.
Tips for Gratitude Journaling
Remember to be present, appreciate your blessings inwardly, and express your gratefulness to others when possible. Journaling is only a tool to expand upon gratitude.
Many, many things that evoke gratitude are worth noting or recalling. So, in your journal, simply acknowledge some things that spur gratefulness (consider everyone and everything in your life).
Recollect happy memories from recent history or long ago to journal from the heart.
Be mindful of thoughts and emotions that arise as you journal. Let yourself flow with uplifting feelings while observing accompanying thoughts.
Stick to thoughts of positivity and growth; your thoughts can shift to actions that spread positivity and compassion outward.
Reading back through your journal may grant perspective and strength along your journeys!
When To Journal
You can journal daily, weekly, or anytime you feel particularly blessed.
You might choose to track blessings immediately after they unfold in daily life. Or you might decide to journal about moments of gratitude later in the day or week. Of course, you may journal anytime you choose.
But consistency yields results; journaling is no exception. Therefore, try to journal daily (or at least a few times weekly). Regular gratitude journaling will have more impact.
22 Amazing Gratitude Journal Prompts
Incorporating journal prompts can assist in journaling regularly. Here’s a list of 22 gratitude journal prompts to help launch your journaling journey!
- Describe why you’re grateful for your family.
- Recount your happiest childhood memory.
- What makes you feel safe? What someone or something?
- What’s one of your most meaningful accomplishments?
- List the top three things you’re thankful for this week (and why you’re grateful).
- Describe something you’re passionate about and why it ignites joy.
- What do you love most about your occupation?
- Journal about a challenge you’ve overcome that’s made you more grateful.
- What have you been given that you’re thankful for?
- What talent or skill do you possess that you’re grateful for?
- What act of kindness did you witness or gift today?
- Who are you most grateful for in your life and why?
- List things you love about every season. What’s your season of choice?
- Who is your greatest inspiration and why?
- What change of perception would clear away any negative mental scripts (or tendencies)?
- Recall a proud moment in your self-growth journey.
- Detail why you appreciate a good friend or close family member.
- What made you smile today?
- What’s a simple pleasure you appreciate?
- Write about your favorite place to visit. Don’t spare the details about what you appreciate.
- What is something you learned this week that you’re grateful for?
- What is your favorite habit? Why is it an essential component of your routine?
Parting Thought
When we celebrate life’s beauteous moments by paying attention to or honoring them, we harness inner happiness while deepening our appreciation for everything in our lives. Living in gratitude is a mindset and life changer.
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